SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team (7-7, 3-6 NSIC, 9th), will host its final two regular season matches of the season with St. Cloud State (7-5, 5-4 NSIC, 5th) and Minnesota Duluth (8-10, 5-4 NSIC, 5th) at the Huether Family Match Pointe this weekend. In a pair of crucial matches, USF will host SCSU at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and Minnesota Duluth at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

At Stake –
For the Cougars, this weekend's matches will determine if they have a shot at making the postseason NSIC tournament on April 21. USF, which reached the NSIC semifinals a year ago for the first time in school history, will need to win both matches and get some help to qualify for the tournament. Two wins puts USF at a 5-6 record. If SCSU and UMD also lose to league leader Augustana, then USF would advance to the tournament based on winning the head-to-head matchups.  A loss to either SCSU or UMD eliminates the Cougars.

On St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth
St. Cloud State, 7-5 overall, is tied with Minnesota Duluth, 8-10 overall, for fifth in the NSIC with 5-4 records. In fact, four NSIC teams are tied fifth at 5-4 with Bemidji State (10-4) and Minnesota State (7-9) joining SCSU and UMD in the fifth place tie. Bemidji State will face Minnesota State on Saturday and SMSU on Sunday while MSU plays Minnesota Crookston in their other match this weekend.

USF stands 7-7, including 3-6 in the NSIC
The USF opened the season with nonconference wins over Ottawa, 5-4, and Doane, 8-1, on a neutral court in Red Oak, Iowa on Feb. 4. In USF's home opener, the Cougars defeated Southwest Minnesota State, 7-2, before falling to Minnesota State, 9-0 on Feb. 11. Two weeks ago USF traveled to Bismarck, N.D., and defeated U-Mary, 6-3; and lost a heart-breaker to MSU Moorhead, 5-4. On Feb. 22-23, USF split two matches, defeating Minnesota Crookston, 9-0 before falling to Bemidji State, 8-1. USF hosted and lost to DI Iowa State of the Big 12, 9-0 on March 4. On their spring break trip, USF defeated Bloomsburg (Pa.), 6-3, and SUNY-Geneseo, 6-3. On March 25, the Cougars fell at Augustana, 8-1. Last weekend (April 1-2), USF dropped a pair of matches on the road, falling to Upper Iowa, 8-1, and Winona State, 9-0.

Bunkers and Seigenthaler close regular season careers this weekend
With her final regular season matches ahead this weekend, seniors Kara Bunkers and Abby Seigenthaler have had solid years and careers with USF.  This season, Bunkers is 7-6, including 5-4 in NSIC play at #3 singles. She is 29-16 in her career, 21-10 in the NSIC during her time at USF in singles. In doubles play, Bunkers has compiled a 40-18 record.

Abby Seigenthaler, who is 5-4 at #4 and 3-1 at #5, has had a solid year in her first year as a starter in singles. She is now 8-5 overall (9-7 in her career) and 5-4 in league competition. One of her biggest wins was the straight set verdict over Augustana's Christine Olivo (6-3, 6-0).  When she has been paired in doubles with Bunkers, mostly at #2 doubles, they are 4-3 on the season and 24-6 in their careers.

Bunkers has also teamed up in doubles with Kylie Simons to produce a 3-1 record overall and 3-1 in league play in 2017. Seigenthaler and freshman Tianna Duda are 2-2 at #2 doubles. Duda and Simons have played seven matches at #1 doubles (1-6).

Sophomore Kylie Simons is holding down the #1 singles spot, owning a 2-12 record. Duda has made an impression in her freshman campaign, going 6-8 overall (3-6 NSIC) at #2 singles. Another freshman Kelsie Sanders is 5-6 (2-4 NSIC) at #5 singles while freshman Marie Schmitz is 2-4 (0-4 NSIC) at #6 and teamed with Cortney McCans at #3 doubles in doubles, going 2-2. McCans, a junior, is 5-6 with a 0-1 mark at #4, 0-3 at #5 and 5-2 at #6.

Head Coach Kevin Grebin, who is the all-time wins leader at the D2 level in tennis at USF, sports a 42-42 overall mark with a 26-26 mark in NSIC play.  

By the numbers
Overall USF is 37-47 in singles matches including 20-34 in league play. In doubles, USF is 17-25, including 9-18 in NSIC action. The Cougars are 4-10 at #1 doubles, 7-7 at #2 doubles and 6-8 at #3 doubles.

Singles 
#1 Kylie Simons, sophomore (2-12, 1-8 NSIC; career - 14-19, 9-11 in NSIC)
#2 Tianna Duda, freshman (6-8 overall, 3-6 in NSIC)
#3 Kara Bunkers, senior (7-6, 5-4 NSIC; career – 29-16, 21-10 in NSIC)
#4 Abby Seigenthaler, senior (8-5 overall, 5-4 NSIC, 9-7 career)
#5 Kelsie Sanders, freshman (5-6 overall, 2-4 in NSIC)
#5-6 Cortney McCans, junior (5-6, 4-4 NSIC)
#6 Marie Schmitz, freshman (2-4, 0-4 NSIC)

Doubles 
#1 Simons, Bunkers (3-1 overall, 3-1 in NSIC (Simons 9-8 in career in doubles; Bunkers 40-18)
#2 Duda, Siegenthaler (2-2 overall, 2-2 in NSIC). Siegenthaler is 45-16 overall in doubles play; Duda, 3-11 in doubles, including 2-2 at #2)
#3  Cortney McCans/Marie Schmitz (2-2, NSIC, 2-2)

Also in doubles, USF's Bunkers and Seigenthaler, who have played on same tennis team since they were 7th graders, are 4-3 this season at #2.