Elkhorn, Wis. – The Carroll University women's tennis team opened up their CCIW season against the Wheaton Thunder on Friday night. The Pioneers were only victorious in one match against the Thunder, falling 1-8.
 
In doubles, Grace Krueger and Madison Ostrander tied the first set 7-7 against the number one pair from Wheaton. A tie-breaker of 7-4 fell in favor of the Pioneers for the lone victory of the night. Carolyn Merkatoris and Maya Gaedtke fell 2-8, and Francesca Grimes and Rachel Papp dropped the match 4-8.
 
In singles, Krueger won her first set decisively 6-3, but stumbled in the second set 6-7 (4). A tie-breaker went all the way to 8-10, with the victory going to the Thunder. Ostrander (0-6, 2-6), Gaedtke (0-6, 1-6), Lora Leach (1-6, 1-6), Merkatoris (2-6, 0-6), and Papp (0-6, 1-6) all fell in straight sets to the conference champions from a season ago.
 
The Pioneers are scheduled to play their first game of the season on their home Jean Kilgour Trailblazer courts on March 20 against the Millikin Big Blue. The Pioneers are 4-0 against Millikin since 2016.