WAVERLY/DECORAH, Iowa – The Nebraska Wesleyan women's tennis team got their season started on Saturday afternoon with a pair of American Rivers Conference matches on the road.  NWU dropped the first match 9-0 at Luther College, then traveled to Waverly, Iowa to face Wartburg College and fell 8-1.
 
After having their opening weekend matches postponed last week, the Prairie Wolves were eager to start 2020 on Saturday.
 
In the opening Luther match, the Norse jumped ahead by winning all three doubles matches then took all six singles matches in straight sets.  Two singles matches were competitive including No. 1 where Brooke Sailer pushed her opponent Shelby Cook in a 7-5, 6-2 setback. Playing her first collegiate match, Natalie Reynolds battled hard in a 6-0, 7-5 loss to Natalia Smith at No. 3 singles.
 
The Prairie Wolves were much more competitive in the dual against Wartburg.  The Knights, who are now 5-0 on the season, won 8-1 but were pushed by the Prairie Wolves.
 
Brooke Sailer won her match at No. 1 singles over Madison Overman in a score of 6-0, 5-7, 10-8 taking the tiebreaker set.  Reynolds came close once again at No. 3 singles falling 4-6, 6-4, 10-6 to Georgia Nissen.
 
In doubles play, the duo of Reynolds and Carley Rubenking played the closest match falling 8-5 at No. 2 doubles.