It wasn't quite the season opener that the University of Minnesota Duluth women's tennis team was hoping for as the Bulldogs fell to nonconference opponents St. Mary's University (Minn.) and Bethel University, as well as Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe Upper Iowa.

The Bulldogs kicked off the 2011 campaign with a loss to St. Mary's University (Feb. 6) in which the Cardinals swept all three doubles matches and took three wins in singles play. Winning in singles for UMD were sophomore Brittany Thompson (No. 3), senior Anna Witty (No. 5), and junior Jessica Stensrud (No. 6).

Troubles continued into last weekend for the Bulldogs, as they fell 2-7 to Bethel University on Saturday. Thompson (No.3) and junior Katie Bolf (No. 2) posted the only two points of the match for UMD. On Sunday, UMD dropped another match by a 1-8 decision to Upper Iowa, with Stensrud (No. 6) grabbing the lone victory.

The Bulldogs look to bounce back this coming weekend (Feb. 19-20) as they face the College of St. Benedict on Saturday and NSIC conference rival Bemidji State University on Sunday.