SIOUX FALLS – Led by the inspired play of Kelsie Sanders on Senior Night, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Tennis Team (6-8, 5-5 NSIC) picked up a key Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win over Southwest Minnesota State (13-10, 3-7 NSIC) on Saturday night at the Huether Family Match Pointe.

Prior to the match, USF honored Sanders on Senior Night before her family, high school coach, friends and teammates. Then, Sanders took to the court and earned a win which clinched the victory for USF. Sanders improved to 4-6 on the season with her second straight win as she recorded a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Hanna Himmelman of SMSU at No. 6 singles.

With the victory against SMSU, the Cougars clinched at least the seventh seed in the upcoming NSIC Tourney on April 13-14 and could clinch the sixth spot with a win over Minnesota State on Sunday, USF and MSU play at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning at the Huether Family Match Pointe, which concludes the regular season for USF. As things stand, USF is tied with Bemidji State for sixth in the league standings. If BSU and USF win on Sunday, USF holds the tiebreaker due to a  4-1 win earlier this year.

"I was pleased with the resiliency and toughness we showed in picking up an important victory," said USF Head Coach Kevin Grebin. "We were proud to honor Kelsie (Sanders) in front of her family and friends. Then, she and the whole team came out and played great tennis against a good SMSU team," he added.

With Sanders picking up a win, USF won four of six singles matches and also picked up the doubles point with wins in two of three matches. Both Chloe Jefferies and Joelle Thorfinnson recorded their third consecutive singles win. At No. 1 singles, Jefferies, who improved to 8-4 on the season and 5-3 in league play, rolled past SMSU's Cora Delich, 6-0, 6-2.  Thorfinnson moved to 7-4 on the season and 5-2 in league play after registering a 6-1, 7-5 victory over SMSU's Hannah Starke at No. 5 singles. USF also had a win by Lexi Miller (2-9 on the season – 2-6 in the NSIC) at No. 3 singles as she rolled to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over SMSU's Olivia Watzke.

Jefferies and Thorfinnson also recorded a victory at No. 1 doubles as they rallied from down 4-3 to earn a 7-5 victory. Miller teamed with Megan Quandt to win 7-5 at No. 2 doubles. USF lost a tough decision at No. 3 doubles as Sanders and Rachel Klatt dropped a 7-6 (7-5 tiebreaker) decision.

Singles

1. Chloe Jefferies (USF) def. Cora Delich (SMSU), 6-0, 6-2

2. Fatima Murphy (SMSU) over Megan Quandt (USF), 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)

3. Lexi Miller (USF) def. Olivia Watzke (SMSU), 6-1, 6-2

4. Daniela Flores (SMSU) over Victoria Ambrosio-Cueto (USF), 6-2, 6-1

5. Joelle Thorfinnson (USF) def. Hannah Starke (SMSU), 6-1, 7-5

6. Kelsie Sanders (USF) def. Hanna Himmelman (SMSU), 6-4, 6-3   Doubles 1. Jefferies/Thorfinnson (USF) def. Paige Janka/Murphy (SMSU), 7-5 2. Quandt/Miller (USF) over Starke/Delich (SMSU), 7-5 3. Gabby Potthoff /Himmelman (SMSU) def. Sanders/Rachel Klatt (USF), 7-6 (7-5)