ST. PETER, Minn. - The Carroll University women's tennis team balanced competition at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships and the Gustie Invite over the weekend, highlighted by a championship performance from Mia Franke at Gustavus Adolphus College.

At the ITA Regional Championships, Natasa Pupovac entered singles play as a seeded player and received a first-round bye before dropping a hard-fought three-set match, 6-3, 3-6, 10-6. Kate Trifilio opened her tournament with a strong 7-5, 6-2 victory in the first round before falling in the second round by a 6-2, 6-1 score.

Pupovac and Trifilio also teamed up in doubles and enjoyed an impressive run through the bracket. The duo survived a tightly contested opening-round match, earning an 8-7 (3) victory before cruising to an 8-2 win in the next round. Their tournament run eventually came to an end in the Round of 16, capping off a strong showing against some of the region's top competition.

Meanwhile, several Pioneers competed at the Gustie Invite, where Franke headlined Carroll's efforts with a championship in Draw 8. After dropping the opening set of her first match, Franke rallied for a 0-4, 5-3, 10-7 victory to advance. She then dominated her quarterfinal and semifinal contests, posting identical 4-0, 4-0 victories in both matches. Franke completed her title run with an impressive 6-3, 6-0 win in the championship match to claim the Draw 8 crown.

Madison Siminski also put together a strong tournament in Draw 6. She opened with consecutive victories, defeating her first opponent 4-1, 5-4 (7-2) before earning a 4-1, 4-2 win in the quarterfinals. Siminski's run ended in the semifinals against a tough opponent, falling 4-0, 4-1.

In Draw 9, Nawal Souki picked up a comeback victory in her opening match, rallying for a 2-4, 4-2, 10-4 win before suffering a 4-0, 4-2 defeat in the next round. Gracie Niebler competed in Draw 5, where she dropped her opening match by scores of 4-2 and 4-1.

Doubles play at the Gustie Invite featured Franke and Niebler, who were eliminated in their opening match, while the tandem of Souki and Siminski earned an 8-6 victory before seeing their run conclude in the next round.

Carroll will now turn its attention back to conference competition as the Pioneers travel to North Park on Saturday, Oct. 4, for a 10 a.m. CCIW matchup.