Women's Tennis | 2/17/2017 8:48:00 AM
SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team, which is off to a 3-1 start to open the spring campaign, will hit the road for a pair of NSIC matchups in Bismarck, N.D. The Cougars will face University of Mary (0-2, 0-2 NSIC) at 1 p.m. on Saturday before facing MSU Moorhead (1-2, 0-2 NSIC) at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
For the second time in three seasons, USF Tennis has opened 3-1. USF starts three freshman, a sophomore and two seniors in its starting singles line up. Cougars have won 15 of past 24 matches (12-8 a year ago).
USF sits 3-1 after two weeks of competition
In USF's home opener, the Cougars defeated Southwest Minnesota State, 7-2, before falling to Minnesota State, 9-0 to stand 3-1 over and 1-1 in NSIC competition. They will face a U-Mary team that has lost close matchups to Minnesota Duluth, 5-4; and St. Cloud State, 6-3. In 2016, USF defeated MSUM, 5-4 (Feb. 20, 2016). Meanwhile MSUM defeated Concordia College, 9-0, in nonconference action before falling to Minnesota Duluth, 5-4; and St. Cloud State, 5-4. A year ago, USF defeated U-Mary, 7-2 (Feb. 19, 2016).
Kara Bunkers and
Abby Seigenthaler, both seniors from Sioux Falls, opened the season 3-1 in singles with Bunkers at #3 and Seigenthaler, #5. Bunkers and Seigenthaler, who have played on the same tennis team for 10 years (seventh grade in Sioux Falls), also teamed up to finish 3-1 in double competition as they ran their career record to 23-4
Head Coach
Kevin Grebin, who is the all-time wins leader at the D2 level in tennis at USF, sports a 38-36 overall mark with a 24-21 mark in NSIC play. The probable starters for USF includes:
Breaking down USF by the numbers
Overall USF is 14-10 in singles matches including 5-7 in league play. In doubles, USF is 6-6, including 2-4 in NSIC action.
Singles
#1
Kylie Simons, sophomore (1-3 in 2017; 13-10, 8-5 in NSIC)
#2
Tianna Duda, freshman (2-2 overall, 1-1 in NSIC)
#3
Kara Bunkers, senior (3-1 in 2017, 1-1 NSIC; career – 25-9, 15-7 in NSIC)
#4
Kelsie Sanders, freshman (2-2 overall, 1-1 in NSIC)
#5
Abby Seigenthaler, senior (3-1 in 2017, 5-2 career)
#6
Marie Schmitz, freshman (1-1, 0-1 NSIC)
Doubles
#1 Simons, Duda (1-3 overall, 0-2 in NSIC in 2017; Simons 5-5 in her career in doubles)
#2 Bunkers, Siegenthaler (3-1 overall, 1-1 in NSIC in 2017; Bunkers, 37-14 all-time in doubles play including 23-4 with Siegenthaler; Siegentahler is 41-11 overall in doubles play)
#3 Sanders, Schmitz (1-0 overall, 1-0 NSIC)
