SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team (6-5, 6-4 NSIC) had single wins from seniors
Rachel Klatt and
Joelle Thorfinnson but dropped a 5-2 decision to Southwest Minnesota State (8-7, 8-3 NSIC) in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Friday at the Huether Family Match Pointe.
Prior to the start of the match, USF honored its three seniors -
Rachel Klatt,
Victoria Ambrosio-Cueto and
Lexi Miller - for their contributions and dedication to the program. "I can't thank you enough for what you have given to this program," said USF Head Coach
Kevin Grebin. "I will miss you. It is with great appreciation that we honor you today," he said to the seniors in front of family, friends and teammates.
USF earned wins in two of the six singles and lost the doubles point in a match that was closely contested throughout. At No. 1 doubles, SMSU's Maegan Flight/Courtenay Leonard edged past USF"s
Megan Quandt and
Joelle Thorfinnson, 6-4. At No. 2 doubles, Cora Delich and Gwendolen Sior of SMSU earned a 6-3 win over USF's
Danielle Thorfinnson and
Talia Janos. USF won the No. 3 doubles as
Rachel Klatt teamed with
Peyton Forney for a 6-3 win over Rachel Steffen and Silvia Poulakidas. However, since SMSU won 2-of-3 doubles matches, they earned the point for the match.
In singles play, Flight defeated Quandt, 6-3, 6-0 at No. 1. SMSU took the No. 2 singles as Leonard defeated Janos, 6-3, 6-2 and Sior edged Miller at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 6-4. In a three-set match at No. 4, Delich of SMSU took a 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 win over
Danielle Thorfinnson. The Cougars bounced back with wins at No. 5 singles with
Joelle Thorfinnson taking a 6-4, 6-4 win over Poulakidas. With the win, Thorfinnson is now 7-3 overall and 7-2 in league play, which are records that lead USF. Then, Klatt won her fourth straight singles match and improved to 5-6 overall and 5-5 in league play with a 6-0, 6-0 decision over Rachel Steffen of SMSU. Klatt's four-match winning streak is currently best on the team.
"We certainly battled today but just lost some tough points in both doubles and singles," said Grebin, whose team will face Upper Iowa on Sunday at Great Life-Woodlake in Sioux Falls in the final regular season match of the season. "But all in all, I was pleased with our effort. We just need to bounce back on Sunday as we finish the regular season and prepare for the upcoming NSIC Championships," he said.
