SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Women's Tennis Team, which returns its top five players, will open the season on Saturday (Feb. 8) against NSIC foe Bemidji State (4-2, 2-0) at 6:30 pm at the Huether Family Match Pointe. On Sunday morning at 9 am, the Cougars will host Minnesota Crookston (0-1, 0-1 NSIC) in another league matchup also at the Huether Family Match Pointe.
Directed by veteran head coach
Kevin Grebin and assistant coach
Kevin Plank, the Cougars have 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.
The USF Team 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, and is among five returning starters to the lineup. 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.
