BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Tennis Team, which returns its top five players, has been picked to finish sixth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches Poll which was released by the league office on Thursday, Jan. 30.
USF, which finished 8-9 and advanced to the semifinals of the NSIC Championships for a second time in 2018-19, received 66 total points. Augustana received 11-of-12 first place votes and 121 points for was the pick by the coaches to win the league. MSU Moorhead earned one first place vote and 110 points and was projected to take second with Winona State, third at 91 points and followed by U-Mary, 86; Minnesota Duluth, 78, and Sioux Falls, 66.
Poll Results – 1. Augustana (11), 121; 2. MSU Moorhead (1), 110; 3. Winona State, 91; 4. U-Mary, 86; 5. Minnesota Duluth, 78;
6. Sioux Falls, 66; 7. Bemidji State, 64; 8. Minnesota State, 8; 9. St. Cloud State, 42; 10. Upper Iowa, 41; 11. Southwest Minnesota State, 29; 12. Minnesota Crookston, 16. The preseason coaches' poll is based off each coach ranking each team from 11 to 1 with the top team receiving 11 points, second 10, third 9, etc. The 2019 NSIC Women's Tennis Tournament will consist of the top eight teams in the NSIC final standings competing in a single elimination format on April 17-19 at Lifetime Fitness in Huether Family Match Pointe in Sioux Falls, S.D.
USF, which opens the season on Feb. 8-9 with league matches against Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston, will returns its top five at singles, who will also likely combine to form the top three doubles squads.
The group back will be led by "Player to Watch"
Megan Quandt, a junior from Henderson, Nev., who finished 6-10 overall and 5-5 in league play. USF also returns two-time All-NSIC selection
Chloe Jefferies, who was the NSIC Freshman of the Year two years ago.
With the return of Jefferies, a talented USF squad will look to earn a fifth NSIC Tournament bid in six years. Directed by USF Head Coach
Kevin Grebin, the Cougars finished 6-5 in league play and earned the No. 6 seed in the league tournament.
At No. 1 singles, Jefferies finished 10-5 with a 6-3 league record at No. 1 singles. Jefferies, a redshirt junior who was named NSIC Freshman of the Year in 2018, has a 24-8 career record and stands 16-4 in league play through two seasons. A year ago, she was 5-6 in doubles play. Junior
Joelle Thorfinnson is also back after finishing 9-4 and 6-2 in league play at No. 5 singles. She was also 7-5 in competing at doubles. At No. 4, senior
Victoria Ambrosio-Cueto was 4-7 overall with a 4-6 league mark. In addition, she was 5-7 in doubles play Junior
Lexi Miller was 3-11 at No. 3 singles.
Overall, USF was 42-48 in singles play with 31-27 mark in NSIC matches. Also USF was 19-30 in doubles with a 16-16 mark in league play.
