By playing well late in matches, the Sioux Falls women's tennis team was able to capitalize on its endurance to take consecutive matches against MSU-Moorhead and Southwest Minnesota State this weekend at Courts Plus in Fargo, N.D.
The Cougars rolled over the Dragons, 8-1 and beat the SMSU Mustangs 7-2 to improve to .500 (4-4) in NSIC play and 6-7 overall.
Sioux Falls gained the early edge with wins in doubles on all three courts. The matchup from the No. 1 position, featuring Kauss and Seigenthaler saw the Cougar tandem earn an 8-4 victory against Dragons Cassie and Morgan Smith. Stacey Beard and Karlee Sieve knocked off MSUM's Galstad/LaCoursiere 8-3 while Morgan DeLange and Julia Iversen rolled Leandra Schmidt and Ashley Smith in 8-0 bagel fashion.
“The strong start by all of the doubles teams helped to give us the momentum into singles play,” Grebin said. “I was very impressed with the way we responded right after what was a tough loss to the University of Mary.”
Though lopsided, the singles action was not without its moments of drama. Top player Alison Kauss was pushed into a tiebreak and the freshman gutted out a 6-2, 0-6, 10-8 No. 1 singles win versus Jenna Galstad. Dragon Morgan Fisher outlasted Rachel Hussey on court two, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2. Beard dominated Cassie Smith (6-2 ,6-0) to snap a two-match losing streak in singles play and the Cougars would sweep on the lower courts to clinch the 8-1 victory.
The Cougars began the dual against Southwest Minnesota State by once again claiming all three doubles points.
In the first match off the court, the tandem of Kauss and Seigenthaler earned a quick 8-1 decision over the Mustangs' team of Katie Kienitz and Crystal Overbaugh at the top of the lineup. Sieve and Beard posted an identical 8-1 verdict against Shelby Monahan/Hannah Hagen and DeLange and Iversen completed the doubles sweep with an 8-3 win versus Samantha Ritter and Allison Niedert.
“Again, a good start with the doubles play that carried over into the singles matches,” Grebin commented.
USF's top singles player Alison Kauss wasted no time on court one, turning Kienitz aside in dominating 6-0, 6-1 fashion. The Mustangs earned their only two points at courts two and three. Monohan edged Hussey 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7) in No. 2 singles and Overbaugh followed suit by edging Beard, 7-5, 1-6, 1-0 (10-8).
“Both Rachel and Stacey lost very close matches—a point here or there and they pick up a win,” Grebin said. “Rachel was involved in a tie-breaker in each of her singles matches and I'm proud of her for fighting to the end in each one.”
DeLange would clinch the match from the No. 6 position for USF, winning 6-1, 6-1. Seigenthaler (6-3, 6-0) and Sieve (6-0, 6-3) tallied wins at courts four and five, respectively to create the final 7-2 margin.
“I was very proud of how the girls played this weekend, we picked up a lot of confidence in our doubles play and we are looking forward to the rest of the conference matches,” Grebin said.
The most impressive Cougar was Sieve, who went 6-0 this weekend including wins at singles and doubles versus the University of Mary on Saturday morning.
“She has three years of playing a lot of matches for USF,” said Grebin. “So she knows what it takes.”
The Cougars are off Easter weekend but will continue their NSIC loop on April 6 with dual matches versus St. Cloud State and Minnesota Crookston.
