Box Score SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Tennis Team (4-0, 2-0 NSIC), which had a 3-0 mark in doubles and 5-1 margin in singles, rolled to an 8-1 decision over Southwest Minnesota State (2-2, 0-1 NSIC) in NSIC Women's Tennis on Saturday at the Huether Family Match Pointe. USF has opened the NSIC season with two straight wins. Not only did USF pick up a decisive win over SMSU, which they defeated for a sixth straight time, but also had a 6-3 victory over Minnesota State on Friday night. As a result, the Cougars are tied for first in the NSIC.

"We had a really strong effort in doubles, including an incredible rally from down 5-2 to win at #3 doubles," said USF Women's Head Coach Kevin Grebin, whose squad has opened 4-0 for the first time in the program's NSIC DII era. "Led by Chloe (Jefferies), Cortney (McCans), Kelsie (Sanders) and Joelle(Thorfinnson), we were also strong in singles play. We had a good day and I am extremely proud of this group for their efforts all weekend," he said.

In the doubles competition, the #1 team of redshirt freshman Chloe Jefferies and freshman Megan Quandt rolled to an 8-1 decision as they moved to 3-1 on the season. At #2, the freshmen tandem of Lexi Miller and Joelle Thorfinnson also improved to 3-1 with an 8-4 decision. In the #3 doubles match up, freshman Rachel Klatt and sophomore Kelsie Sanders remained unbeaten at 4-0 by rallying from down 5-2 to take a 9-8 decision, including a 7-4 advantage in the tiebreaker. Klatt/Sanders not only trailed 5-2 but were down 8-7 but held serve and had a run of three straight points to win the tiebreaker.

In singles competition, Jefferies moved to 4-0 with a straight set 6-2, 6-0 decision over Gabby Tellijohn. At #3 singles, freshman Lexi Miller moved to 2-2 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC with a 6-4, 1-6, 10-4 win. It was Miller's fourth straight win in a tiebreaker. Sanders picked up a straight set win at #4 singles with a dominating 6-1, 6-1 victory over Olivia Watzke. USF also had straight sets wins at #5 and #6 singles. Thorfinnson moved to 4-0 on the season with a 6-2, 6-1 decision while Cortney McCans improved to 3-1 with a 6-1, 6-0 victory.

Singles

#1. Chloe Jefferies (USF) def. Gabby Tellijohn (SMSU), 6-2, 6-0

#2. Cora Delich (SMSU) def. Megan Quandt, (USF) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2

#3. Lexi Miller (USF) def. Hannah Starke (SMSU), 6-4, 1-6, 10-4

#4. Kelsie Sanders (USF) def. Olivia Watzke, (SMSU), 6-1, 6-1

#5. Joelle Thorfinnson (USF) def. Paige Janka (SMSU), 6-2, 6-1

#6. Cortney McCans (USF) def. Jenna Gannott (SMSU), 6-1, 6-0

Doubles

#1. Jefferies/Quandt (USF) def. Tellijohn/Delich (SMSU), 8-1

#2. Miller/Thorfinnson (USF) def. Starke/Watzke (SMSU), 8-4

#3. Sanders/Rachel Klatt (USF) def. Janka/Gabby Potthoff (SMSU), 9-8 (7-4)

 
USF will continue its six-match home stand against MSU Moorhead on Feb. 17 and U-Mary on Feb. 18 at the Huether Family Match Pointe.