SIOUX FALLS – After a 2-0 start, the University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team (2-0, 2-0 NSIC) will host Upper Iowa (2-2, 1-1 NSIC) and Winona State (3-0, 2-0 NSIC) in a pair of weekend Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tennis matches at the Huether Family Match Pointe on Feb. 15-16.

The Cougars, directed by Head Coach Kevin Grebin, will host Upper Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 6:30 pm. A year ago USF took a 4-1 decision over the Peacocks. In the all-time series, USF trails 5-4 as they will try and even the series this weekend. USF, which is 3-2 against UIU in Sioux Falls, has won two straight against the Peacocks. In league play, UIU has a 4-3 win over St. Cloud State and a 4-3 loss to Minnesota Duluth.

On Sunday, Feb. 16 at 8:30 a.m., the Cougars will host Winona State, which has opened 3-0 and will play at Augustana before meeting USF this weekend in Sioux Falls. Last April 13, 2019, the Cougars took a 4-2 decision over the Warriors in Minnetonka, Minn., but trail the all-time series, 6-3. A year ago, USF won four singles matches after dropping the doubles point. The last time USF faced WSU in Sioux Falls, the Warriors took a 6-3 decision.

Season Review -

USF wins opener over Bemidji State, 6-1
With a dominate performance in singles and winning the doubles point, USF successfully opened the season with a 6-1 decision over Bemidji State (4-2, 2-1 NSIC) on Saturday (Feb. 8) at the Huether Family Match Pointe.  The Cougars captured wins at No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 singles for five points and with victories at No. 1 and 2 doubles for another point, the Cougars earned the victory as they opened the season at home. 
 
At No. 1 singles, Chloe Jefferies, a two-time All-NSIC performer, rolled to a 6-0, 6-2 victory as she opened the season with a straight set victory. She earned her 25th career victory in 33 matches and now is 17-4 in league play. NSIC Player to Watch Megan Quandt, a junior, rallied to defeated Hannah Alme with a 4-6, 6-0, 1-0 (11-9) at No. 2 singles. Lexi Miller won at No. 3 when her opponent retired. At No. 4 singles, Victoria Ambrosio-Cueto dominated with a 6-1, 6-3 verdict. And, USF earned a win at No. 6 as Rachel Klatt had a 6-2, 7-6 (11-9) victory in her first match of the year. USF won at No. 1 doubles with Jefferies and Thorfinnson taking a 6-4 decision. When Quandt teamed with freshman Peyton Forney for a 6-2 victory at No. 2 doubles, the Cougars earned the doubles point. 

Cougars top UMC, 7-0
With wins at the top six singles spots as well as earning the doubles point, USF swept Minnesota Crookston, 7-0, in the second match of the season.

At No. 1 singles, freshman Peyton Forney earned her first-ever win in her first ever match with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Ashley Smith. The same was true for freshman Allison Eichacker who won her first-ever match at USF with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Latafale Niumeitolu.Sophomore Emily Applegate registered her second career win with a straight set 6-0, 6-0 decision over UMC's Ashley Chomyn. Both senior Tiffany Voss, who won at No. 4 singles with a straight set win, and junior Brianna Whisler, who was victorious at No. 5 singles also in straight sets, moved to 2-0 in their singles careers.

Applegate and Voss earned their first doubles win by take a 6-0 decision at No. 1 doubles. Then, Eichacker and Whisler teamed up for the first time and registered a 6-0 win at No. 2 doubles to clinch the win.