SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team (7-2), will head to Orlando, Fla., for a four-match road swing during spring break that includes matches with Dallas Baptist (6-5), Millersville (0-5), Charleston (11-2) and Bloomsburg (0-1) March 12-16 in Orlando, Fla.  The nonconference matches are all set to start at 10:30 a.m. (CST) with the schedule including Dallas Baptist on Monday, March 12; Millersville, Tuesday, March 13; Charleston, Wednesday, March 14; and Bloomsburg on Friday, March 16.

USF has opened 7-2 for the first time at the NCAA DII level and recently concluded a six-game home stand with a 5-1 mark. USF has won three of four matches and sit fourth in the NSIC with a 5-2 mark, just one game behind MSU Moorhead. The Cougars will take a break from conference play with the four nonconference matchups. USF is 2-0 in nonconference play in 2018..
 
The Cougars, directed by head coach Kevin Grebin (49-46, 31-30 in NSIC), dropped a 9-0 decision at NSIC league leader Augustana (10-1, 7-0 NSIC) on March 2. This season, the Cougars are 29-25 overall in singles matches, including 22-20 in the NSIC. They are 18-9 in doubles with a 14-7 mark in league competition.
 
Jefferies off to fast start with 8-1 mark in No. 1 singles
Redshirt freshman Chloe Jefferies has put together the best start to a season by a USF Women's Tennis player in the NCAA DII era. Despite a loss at Augustana, Jefferies is 8-1 at #1 singles in a dominant run.

On Feb. 13, Jefferies became just the second USF player in program DII history to earn NSIC Player of the Week honors, Over her last six matches, she has won 60-of-81 games contested.

Three times in seven matches, Jefferies has had 6-0, 6-0 decisions and captured straight-set wins in seven of nine matches. In addition, she has teamed with freshman Megan Quandt at No. 1 doubles to improve to go 6-3 on the season, including 5-2 in league play.  The Jefferies/Quandt tandem has recorded victories in three of the past four matches. At No. 2 singles, Quandt picked up her first victory as a collegian with a straight-set victory against Minnesota Crookston. She stands 1-8 overall and 1-6 in NSIC play in singles.

At No. 3 singles, freshman Lexi Miller owns a 4-5 overall record, including 4-3 in the NSIC. She has won four of her past seven matches. Miller has been involved in five matches decided by a tie-breaker. In doubles, she and Joelle Thorfinnson have won three of four matches and moved to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in NSIC play.   
 
At No. 4 singles, sophomore Kelsie Sanders is now 3-4 after dropping a decision against Augustana. The loss dropped Sanders to 2-3 in NSIC play. At No. 3 doubles, Sanders and Rachel Klatt stand 5-2 overall and 3-2 in league play after a setback to Augustana.

Klatt stands 2-0 in singles play (No. 6 singles) and has a 7-2 overall doubles record, including 5-2 in the NSIC.  Aside from her pairing at doubles with Sanders, she is 2-0 overall and 2-0 in the league with senior Cortney McCans.

Thorfinnson opens collegiate career at 7-2
in her first collegiate season, Joelle Thorfinnson has continued to shine at No. 5 singles after moving to 7-2, including 5-2 in the league, with three wins in her past four matches.  She has recorded straight-set victories in six of her seven singles victories. Thorfinnson is also 5-4 in doubles, including 4-3 in conference play.

Cortney McCans, USF's only senior, is now 4-5, including 2-5 in league play. She stands 1-1 at No. 5 singles and 3-4 at No. 6 singles. McCans is also 2-0 in No. 3 doubles.
 
Team Notes – Cougars picked 8th in league
Overall, USF, which was picked to finish eighth in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll, has had a .500 or better record in two of the last three seasons. The Cougars have received the President's Award for Academic Excellence and earned two straight ITA All-Academic Team honors.
   
Opponent Breakdown –  
Dallas Baptist, a member of the Heartland Conference, stands 6-5 but has dropped four of five matches, including a 6-3 decision to Angelo State on March 3. Wade Morgan is in his first year as head coach of the DBU men's and women's tennis teams after six seasons with Schreiner University.

Millersville, directed by head coach Matt Helsel, has opened 0-5 but has not played since Oct. 10, an 8-1 loss to Daemen. They are a member of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

Charleston, a member of the Mountain East Conference, has opened with an 11-2 mark, including four wins in the past five matches. Most recently, they defeated Southern Indiana, 7-2, on March 3. The team is directed by head coach Shari Reed, who is the all-time wins leader in school history. Named to the position in 1997, Reed, who is the Senior Women's Administrator at Charleston, has led the team to six league titles and seven NCAA tournament appearances.

Bloomsburg, a member of the Pennslyvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), has played just one match, a 9-0 loss to Slippery Rock in 2018. The Huskies will play five matches from March 10-15 and before facing USF on March 16. Head Coach Marty Coyne is in his 23^rd season as the head coach of women's team. He is also the men's coach and has won 561 combined matches.