SIOUX FALLS – After a 2-0 weekend, the University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team will host two more NSIC matches with Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State on the schedule this weekend at the Huether Family Match Pointe in Sioux Falls, SD.
The Cougars, which sit 2-2 after a loss to USD and Winona State and a win against Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State, will host the Minnesota St. Mavericks on Sat., Feb. 27 at 6:30 pm and the Southwest Minn. St. Mustangs on Sun., Feb. 28 at 9 am. USF is 2-1 in the NSIC and fourth in the standings.
MSU is 1-3 coming into the match, with a 7-0 win over Minnesota Crookston on Feb. 21 in Grand Forks, ND. They lost to Bemidji St., 7-0, also on Feb. 21. The Cougars and Mavericks stand 4-3 all-time, with USF winning three straight matches, including a 6-1 decision on Feb. 28, 2020. USF's last home win over MSU was March 31, 2019 by a 7-0 count.
SMSU sits at 4-0 this season, after a 4-3 win over Bemidji St. and a 7-0 win over Minnesota Crookston last weekend. In the all-time series, the Cougars own an 8-1 record and have won eight straight matches. In their most recent match, USF took a 7-0 decision on Mar. 1, 2020 at Owatonna, Minn. USF's last home win was a 5-2 decision against SMSU on March 30, 2019. The last SMSU win was April 22, 2009 when the Mustangs prevailed, 6-3, in Marshall, MN, when the schools were NAIA.
Quick Review – USF now 2-2 after opening 0-2
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. USF then went on to defeat Minnesota Duluth 5-2 on Feb. 20 in the Cougar's home opener, and defeated SCSU 4-3 on Feb. 21.
In the 5-2 decision over Minnesota-Duluth, USF picked up its first win of the season. The Cougars are now 3-3 on the season in doubles matches and 6-6 in singles play in the NSIC.
In their most recent match, the USF's
Lexi Miller rallied late to win at No. 3 singles and help lift USF to a 4-3 victory over St. Cloud State. After USF won the double points by sweeping all three contests, USF had singles wins from freshman
Talia Janos, J. Thorfinnsonand Miller to secure the second straight win. For Janos, she earned a straight set win and her first career win by upending Sam Fitzpatrick, 6-2, 6-0, Thorfinnson moved to 3-1 on the season with a third straight set win of 6-1, 6-1. At No. 3, Miller opened with a 7-6 (7-2) win in the first set and then lost, 6-4. Down 4-5, Miller won three straight games to earn the 7-5 win in the third set as she improved to 2-2 on the season. In the doubles match ups, the No. 1 team of Janos/Quandt won for the second straight day and its third straight match. With the 6-4 win, they moved to 3-1 on the season.
Danielle Thorfinnson and
Joelle Thorfinnson also earned a win with a 7-6 (7-3) decision as they moved to 2-2 on the year. Lexie Miller and
Rachel Klatt earned their first doubles win of the year with a 6-3 decision as they stand 1-1 in 2021.
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 a 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.
