Women's Tennis | 2/9/2017 9:24:00 AM

SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Women's Tennis Team, which is off to a 2-0 start to open the spring campaign, will host its home opener on Saturday against NSIC foe Southwest Minnesota State (1-0) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Huether Family Match Pointe. The Cougars will also face Minnesota State (0-0) for a home NSIC matchup on Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Huether Family Match Pointe.

For the second time in three seasons, USF Tennis has opened 2-0.  USF starts three freshman, a sophomore and two seniors in its starting singles line up. Cougars have won 14 of past 22 matches (12-8 a year ago).  

A year ago (Feb. 13, 2016) at the Swanson Tennis Center in St. Peter, Minn, the Cougars dropped a heartbreaking 5-4 decision to Minnesota State.  Of the returnees, Kara Bunkers won in straight sets at #5 singles. Abby Seigenthaler was part of the #3 doubles (Stacey Beard) that won, 8-1.  On Feb. 14, 2016 also in St. Peter, Minn., USF took a 9-0 decision over Southwest Minnesota State. Bunkers and Kylie Simons both took straight set victories at #5 and #6 singles, respectively. Bunkers (Joey Wenborg) was part of a win at #2 doubles by a 8-4 tally. Seigenthaler (Stacey Beard) led the #3 doubles team to an 8-2 victory.

USF goes 2-0 on opening weekend
Led by seniors Bunkers and Seigenthaler, USF opened the season with a pair of victories in non conference matches played on Saturday. The Cougars registered a 5-4 win over Ottawa University and an 8-1 decision against Doane University.
 
Both Bunkers and Seigenthaler opened the season with two wins in singles play and paired up to go 2-0 in double competition. Bunkers improved to 24-8 in her career while Seigenthaler is now 4-1 in her career. As a doubles team, Bunkers/Seigenthaler continued to dominate competition, improving to 22-3 in their careers. The duo was 13-2 in 2015 and 8-1 as freshman in 2014.
  
Sophomore Kylie Simons was 1-1 at #1 singles while Tianna Duda (1-1 at #2), Kelsie Sanders (1-1 at #4) and Marie Schmitz (1-1 at #6) all picked up their first wins as collegiate performers.  After two matches, USF is 9-3 in singles and 4-2 in doubles.

Head Coach Kevin Grebin, who is the all-time wins leader at the D2 level in tennis at USF, sports a 37-35 overall mark with a 23-20 mark in NSIC play.  The probable starters for USF includes:

Breaking down Records
Singles –
#1 Kylie Simons, sophomore (1-1 in 2017; 13-8, 8-3 in NSIC play in career)
#2 Tianna Duda, freshman (1-1 in 2017)
#3 Kara Bunkers, senior (2-0 in 2017; career – 24-8, 14-6 in NSIC play)
#4 Kelsie Sanders, freshman (1-1 in 2017)
#5 Abby Seigenthaler, senior (2-0 in 2017, 4-1 career)
#6 Marie Schmitz, freshman (1-1 in 2017)

Doubles –
#1 Simons, Duda (1-1 in 2017; Simons 5-3 in her career in doubles)
#2 Bunkers, Siegenthaler (2-0 in 2017; Bunkers, 36-13 all-time in doubles play including 22-3 with Siegenthaler; Siegentahler is 40-10 overall in doubles play)
#3 Sanders, Schmita (first time competing in doubles)