SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team will host its home NSIC opener as part of a three-match schedule this weekend in Sioux Falls.
The Cougars, which sit 0-2 after a 7-0 loss to D1 University of South Dakota and a 5-2 setback to Winona State on the road, will host Minnesota Duluth at 7 pm on Saturday, Feb. 20 and then St. Cloud State at 9 am on Sunday at the Huether Family Match Pointe in Sioux Falls. At 1 pm Sunday, USF will face Augustana at the GreatLife – Woodlake in Sioux Falls.
UMD is 1-1 coming into the match with a 6-1 win over Minnesota State on Feb. 13 in Lakeville, Minn. They lost to SMSU, 4-3, also on Feb. 13. The Cougars and Bulldogs stand 4-4 all-time with UMD winning four straight matches, including a 5-2 decision on Feb. 22, 2020. USF's last win was April 9, 2016 by an 8-1 decision at St. Cloud, Minn. USF's last home win over UMD was April 11, 2015 by an 8-1 count.
SCSU also sits 1-1 this season after a 4-3 loss to SMSU and a 7-0 win over Minnesota State last weekend. The Cougars and Huskies stand 5-5 all-time with USF owning a three-match winning streak. USF took a 6-1 decision on Feb. 21, 2020 at Sartell, Minn. USF's last home win was a 4-0 decision against SCSU on March 2, 2019. The last SCSU win was April 8, 2017 when the Huskies prevailed, 6-3, in Sioux Falls.
Augustana is 1-0 and will host three matches this weekend against USF as well as UMD and SCSU. All-time, USF trails the Vikings, 7-0. A year ago, USF dropped a 7-0 decision at the Huether Family Match Pointe on March 1, 2019.
Quick Review – USF opens season 0-2 but shows promise
After falling to DI South Dakota, 7-1, on Feb. 3, the Cougars dropped a 5-2 decision at Winona State, in a match which USF battled the Warriors, picked third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches poll, throughout the contest. The sister tandem of Joelle
Thorfinnson and Danielle
Thorfinnson earned singles wins but the Cougars lost several close matches.
In her first win as a member of the USF Tennis Team, Danielle
Thorfinnson (1-1) recorded a 6-3, 6-4 decision over Audrey
Delich of Winona State at No. 4 singles. Then at No. 5 singles, her sister, senior Joelle
Thorfinnson won a three-set decision by a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 result against Brooke Jorgensen. As a result, she is now 27-12 in her career at USF.
Freshman Talia
Janos (0-2) battled Rachel Kelly before falling 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 2 singles and
Lexi Miller (0-2) at NO. 3 had a solid outing before falling 6-3, 5-7, 10-3. USF lost the double point by falling in No. 2 and No. 3 doubles but the No. 1 team of Megan
Quandt and Talia
Janos (1-1) had their first win as a team by a 6-3 decision against WSU's No. 1 team of Beth
Murman and Audrey
Delich.
Through two matches, USF is 2-10 in singles and 1-5 in doubles competition. The Cougars stand 2-4 in singles in NSIC play with a 1-2 doubles mark.
USF picked 5th in NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll
USF has been picked to finish fifth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches Poll which was released by the league office on Tuesday, Feb. 2. A year ago, USF, which was 8-5 before the CoVID-19 pandemic ended the season, finished 43-33 in singles with 33-15 record before the CoVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 season. USF was also 21-17 in doubles with a 16-7 league record. USF advanced to the semifinals of the
NSIC Championships in 2018-19.
