SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team (2-2, 2-2 NSIC) will look to get stay on the winning track as they face Winona State (4-1, 4-0 NSIC) at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 22 and Upper Iowa (2-5, 1-3 NSIC) at 12:30 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Winona, Minn.  

This past weekend, the Cougars rolled to a pair of NSIC wins with a 4-1 win over Bemidji State and a 6-1 decision against Minnesota Crookston. USF is now 2-2 overall and 2-2 in league play and in sixth place.

Winona State is tied for the league lead with a 4-0 record after defeating Minnesota State, 6-1, on Feb. 8; SMSU, 6-1, on Feb. 9; Minnesota Duluth, 5-2, on Feb 16 and St. Cloud State, 6-1, on Feb. 17. A year ago, USF dropped a 6-3 decision after winning doubles but taking only one singles win (Chloe Jefferies at No. 1 singles). In 2017, USF took a 9-0 setback to WSU but recorded an 8-1 decision in 2016. Overall WSU has a 5-2 series lead over the Cougars.

Upper Iowa, which is tied for seventh in the NSIC at 1-3, have lost to Minnesota State, 5-2; SMSU, 4-0; defeated St. Cloud State, 4-3, and lost to Minnesota Duluth, 5-2. A year ago, USF took a 7-2 decision with wins in five singles matches.  In the all-time series with USF, Upper Iowa owns a 7-1 edge over USF. Two years ago in 2017, Upper Iowa defeated USF, 8-1 at Winona, Minn. In 2015-16, UIU defeated the Cougars, 5-4, in the regular season in Sioux Falls and 5-1 in the NSIC Tourney in Minnetonka, Minn., in 2015-16.  In 2014-15, the Peacocks prevailed over USF, 7-2 at Winona, Minn. During the 2013-14 season, UIU recorded a 5-4 win in Sioux Falls. In 2012, UIU took an 8-1 verdict at Owatonna, Minn.

After one of its most successful seasons (11-7 overall, 7-4 in the NSIC) in 2017-18 at the DII level, USF was picked fifth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll. Redshirt sophomore Chloe Jefferies was named the "Player to Watch" for USF.  This season the Cougars have opened with an 11-11 overall singles mark and stand 5-6 in doubles in the two NSIC matches.

Individual plaudits - record

Redshirt sophomore Chloe Jefferies, who put together the best season by a USF Women's Tennis player in the NCAA DII era with a 14-3 mark and 10-1 in the NSIC, has opened 1-2 with a pair of close losses. She is also 1-2 in league play. She stands 15-5 overall and 11-3 all-time in NSIC play in her career at USF. 

At No. 2 singles, sophomore Megan Quandt is 2-1 after winning in three sets against Bemidji State. She is now 4-17 in her career and 3-11 in league play.

At No. 3 singles, sophomore Lexi Miller is 0-3 on the season (0-3 in NSIC play) and now has a 9-11 overall mark with a 7-7 NSIC record.  

Newcomer Victoria Ambrosia-Cueto opened her career with a three-set victory against U-Mary to move to 1-0 at No. 4 singles. She only played doubles last weekend and pair with Kelsie Sanders to take a 7-5 win against Bemidji State.

At No. 5 Thorfinnson moved to 2-1 on the season with a straight set win against Bemidji State. She is now 13-7 in her career in singles with a 9-5 league mark. At No. 5, she is now 10-5 with a 3-2 mark at No. 4.
 
Sophomore Kelsie Sanders is 1-1 on the season and 11-17 overall, including 5-11 in league play.  For the first time in her career, she played at No. 1 singles in USF 6-1 win over Minnesota Crookston. Sanders rolled to a straight set win at that spot. At No. 6, Rachel Klatt is 2-3 overall and 2-3 in NSIC play. She is 0-2 this season. Three USF players played singles for the first time this season and took wins. Tiffany Ross moved to 1-0 at No. 5 singles with a 6-0, 6-0 decision. Freshman Emily Applegate, who is 1-1 in double play this season, took a straight set victory at No. 3 singles in the UMC win. Also Brianna Whisler picked up her first career win with a straight set 6-0, 6-0 win against UMC. Whisler and Ross also teamed up in doubles for a win.

This past weekend Quandt and Jefferies teamed up for a win against BSU. Jefferies is now 12-7 in doubles for her career. Quandt is now 1-2 this year and 11-10 in doubles matches. As a tandem they are 1-0. Thorfinnson and Miller was 9-9 a year ago and now stands 9-12 in doubles after she and Thorfinnson dropped a decision to BSU. Thorfinnson is now 1-1 this year and 11-9 all-time. Klatt is 1-1 this year and 13-7 in her career in doubles.  Ambrosia-Cueto is 1-2 this year and in her career in doubles. Klatt is 2-1 this year and is now 14-7 in her career in doubles.