SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team (10-6, 5-3 NSIC), which has won three straight NSIC matches, is set to host Winona State (13-3, 8-1 NSIC) on Friday, April 8 at 7 pm and Upper Iowa (8-6, 5-4 NSIC) on Saturday, April 9 at 7 pm. Both matches will be played at the Huether Family Match Pointe in Sioux Falls, S.D. 

On Saturday, prior to the USF-Upper Iowa match, USF Head Coach Kevin Grebin will recognize four seniors in a Senior Night ceremony. Those seniors include Joelle Thorfinnson, Megan Quandt, Peyton Forney and Emily Applegate.

Last weekend, the Cougars had a two-match sweep, with a 6-1 win over Minn. Crookston on April 1 and a 5-2 win over Bemidji State on April 2 -- both in Sioux Falls, S.D.  As a result, USF has won three straight league matches to move to 5-3 on the season. The Cougars also stand 10-6 overall and have clinched a third consecutive winning season with its third season of at least double-digit victories. USF sits in sixth place in the league standings and just a half-game out of third place (four-way tie).

Breaking it down – Look at USF Tennis 
The Cougars, which had a 7-6 overall mark with a 7-4 league finish in 2021, is a veteran team with a number of talented newcomers in the fold. USF was picked to finish seventh in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll. After recording a second straight winning season (7-6, 7-4 NSIC) and the fifth in the DII era in 2021, USF has won at least five matches in the nine tennis seasons in the NSIC. Of that total, USF has six winning NSIC records. 

At 10-6 this season with a 5-3 league mark, USF has a 51-42 mark in singles with a 26-22 league mark. In doubles, USF is 28-20 overall and 16-8 in league.

Breakdown - Singles - 
No. 1 - Megan Quandt – 4-6 overall, 2-4 NSIC
No. 2 -- Talia Janos – 6-8 overall, 3-5 NSIC
No.3 -- Danielle Thorfinnson – 5-7 overall, 3-4 NSIC
No. 4 -- Joelle Thorfinnson – 7-7 overall, 4-4 NSIC
No. 5 -- Emily Thinnsen – 8-6 overall, 5-3 NSIC
No. 6 -- Katelyn Nesheim – 11-3 overall, 7-1 NSIC
No. 6 -- Peyton Forney, 3-3 overall, 1-1 NSIC
Emily Applegate, 1-1; Annika Randt, 2-0; Briana Holm, 3-0, Rhianna Cantine, 0-1; Ella Schmidt, 1-0

Doubles -- 
No. 1 -- Janos/Quandt -- 5-3 overall, 3-1 NSIC; Forney/Janos, 0-2 overall, 0-2 NSIC; Janos/D. Thorfinnson, 1-0 overall, 1-0 NSIC
No. 2 -- D. Thorfinnson/J. Thorfinnson -- 6-3 overall, 4-1 NSIC; Thinnsen/J. Thorfinnson, 1-0 overall, 1-0 NSIC; Forney/J. Thorfinnson, 0-1 overall, 0-1 NSIC
No. 3 -- Nesheim/Thinnsen -- 6-4 overall, 4-3 NSIC; Forney/Nesheim, 1-0 overall, 1-0 NSIC
Applegate/Forney, 3-2 overall, 1-0 NSIC; Cantine/Schmidt, 0-2; Holm/Randt, 0-1; Nesheim/Quandt, 1-0; Randt/Schmidt, 1-0; Quandt/J. Thorfinnson, 1-0; 

Overall in doubles, Janos is 7-5 with a 5-3 league mark, while D. Thorfinnson is 8-3 with a 5-1 league mark. J. Thorfinnson is 9-4 overall with a 6-2 league mark. Thinnsen is 7-4, 5-3 in the NSIC, while Nesheim is 8-4 overall and 5-3 in league. Quandt stands 8-3 overall and 3-1 in the league. Forney is 4-5 with a 2-3 NSIC mark. Also for USF – Schmidt is 1-3; Randt, 1-2; Holm, 0-2; and Cantine, 0-2.

Quick Season Review – NSIC matches
Cougars register consecutive 5-2 wins over UMD and SCSU for 2-0 league start
SCSU - In the 5-2 win over SCSU, the Cougars were led by senior Megan Quandt, who was a combined 4-0 in singles and doubles this weekend, registered a 6-3, 6-1 win over Arisa Kashima of SCSU. She also took a straight set win over Mallory Luthin of UMD, 6-2, 6-4 and paired with Talia Janos for a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles. Janos also recorded a straight set win in singles with a 7-5, 6-3 decision over Paz Aoki. Also against SCSU, USF also had wins in singles at No. 3 and No. 6. Danielle Thorfinnson registered a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles over Johana Brower of SCSU.

UMD - Katelyn Nesheim picked up a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win over Samantha Fitzpatrick at No. 6 singles. Both Thorfinnson and Nesheim also had wins in straight sets against UMD. Danielle Thorfinnson and her sister Joelle Thorfinson earned a win over UMD, 6-1. At No. 6, Nesheim had two straight wins in straight sets against UMD and SCSU. Nesheim and Thinnsen recorded consecutive 6-4 wins last weekend. 

Cougars take first losses of season, 5-2 against MSU & 6-1 against SMSU
MSU - The Cougars finished 2-4 in singles play and had a 1-2 mark in doubles but the Mavericks picked up the 5-2 win. At No. 5 singles, Thinnsen earned a hard fought win over Taylor Julsrud by scores of 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 1-0 (10-7). Also earning a win for USF was Nesheim at No. 6 singles by a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. In doubles, USF had a win by the No. 2 doubles team of Danielle Thorfinnson and Joelle Thorfinnson by a 7-5 score.  

SMSU - Against SMSU, the Cougars were defeated in five of the six singles matches and two of the three doubles contests. USF had a big day from senior Joelle Thorfinnson, who won at No. 3 singles and also teamed with her sister, Danielle Thorfinnson, to win at doubles. In the No. 3 singles, J. Thorfinnson took a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 decision of Maja Louisa Harck. At No. 2 doubles, she and D. Thorfinnson took a 7-6 decision over Harck and Joana Indio Reis. 

USF splits first home weekend, 5-2 win over MSUM & 5-2 loss to U-Mary
MSUM - Moving up to No. 1, Talia Janos (2-4, 2-3 NSIC) took a 6-3, 6-1 win over Emma Andersen of MSUM. She also teamed with Danielle Thorfinnson to take the No. 1 doubles match, 7-6 (7-4) in the first match they have partnered in doubles. USF also had a win at No. 2 doubles as Emily Thinnsen and Joelle Thorfinnson stand 1-0 after a 6-3 win. At No. 3 doubles, Katelyn Nesheim and Peyton Forney also teamed up for a first time and came away with a 6-3 win. At No. 3 singles, seniorJoelle Thorfinnson captured a 6-4, 6-0 win over Miranda Griechen. At No. 5, freshman Katelyn Nesheim had a straight set win of 6-2, 6-4 over MSUM's Madison Bell. At No. 6, Peyton Forney (1-1, 1-1 NSIC) won by rallying for a 4-6, 6-0, 7-5 decision. 

U-Mary - At No. 1 doubles, USF took a 6-4 win as Megan Quandt and Talia Janos combined to move their record to 4-0 on the season with a 3-0 league mark. At No. 2 doubles, USF's Peyton Forney and Joelle Thorfinnson lost a 7-5 decision while Thinnsen/Nesheim fell at No. 3 doubles, 6-1. In the singles play, Janos lost to Ilona Freitag, 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 while Megan Quandt fell at No. 1 by a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Chloe Chong. At No. 4, Emily Needham turned back USF's Joelle Thorfinnson, 6-2, 6-0.

USF splits weekend, 6-1 win over Northwestern & 7-0 to UNO
Northwestern - At No. 1 Talia Janos moved to 5-6 on the season with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Julia Kutz of Northwestern. Janos also teamed at No. 1 doubles with senior Megan Quandt for a 6-2 win over Julia Kutz/Julia Anderson. USF also had wins at No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 singles. At No. 3 Joelle Thorfinnson improved to 5-6 on the season with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Wynne Vandersall. At No. 4 singles, freshman Emily Thinnsen defeated Ainslie Robinson, 6-2, 6-1 to improve to 6-5 on the season. Another freshman, Katelyn Nesheim , took a 6-2, 6-0 win over Jessica Wilson as she improved to a team-best 9-2 on the season. Junior Peyton Forney played at No. 6 and came up with another win in a 6-1, 6-1 decision over Emma Montenegro. J. Thorfinnson and D. Thorfinson cruised to a 6-0 win at No. 2 doubles against Vandersall/Robinson. At No. 3 doubles, Thinnsen and Nesheim earned a 6-0 win over Jessica Wilson and Grace Twelmeyer as they sit 4-4 on the season.

UNO Results –
Singles -
No. 1 – Megan Quandt (USF) defeated by Madison Gallegos (Omaha), 6-1, 6-1
No. 2 – Talia Janos (USF) falls to Natalie Lorentz (Omaha), 6-0, 6-1
No. 3 – Joelle Thorfinnson (USF) lost to Keegan Van Pelt (Omaha), 6-2, 6-2
No. 4 – Emily Thinnsen (USF) defeated by Lillian Tiemeyer (Omaha), 6-0, 6-0
No. 5 – Katelyn Nesheim (USF), lost to Brooke Covington (Omaha), 6-1, 6-0
No. 6 – Peyton Forney (USF) falls to Addison Miller (Omaha), 6-4, 6-4

Doubles
No. 1 – Kelly Colby/Alexia Di Giulio (Omaha) over Megan Quandt/Talia Janos (USF), 6-1
No. 2 – Natalie Lorentz/Rachel Osborn (Omaha) defeated Joelle Thorfinnson/Danielle Thorfinnson (USF), 6-3
No. 3 – Brooke Covington/Justine Linscott (Omaha) over Emily Applegate/Peyton Forney(USF), 6-0

USF sweeps home weekend with 6-1 win over UMC & 5-2 win over BSU
UMC - In the other five singles matches, USF had straight set wins. Sophomore Talia Janos recorded a win at No. 2 singles and was part of the No. 1 doubles team with Joelle Thorfinnson which also claimed a win. Janos defeated Michelle Swyter, 6-0, 6-0 and is now 6-7 on the season with a 3-4 league mark. In doubles, Janos and Thorfinnson took a 6-3 win as they paired together for the first time. Thorfinnson was also a double winner, as she took a 6-1, 6-2 win over Sarah Velasquez at No. 3 singles. At No. 4 singles, freshman Emily Thinnsen improved to 7-6 on the season with a 4-3 NSIC mark as she defeated Tasha Schermann, 6-0, 6-1. At No. 5 singles, USF had a straight set win from freshman Katelyn Nesheim, who improved to 10-3 on the season with a 6-1 league mark. Freshman Brianna Holm played at No. 6 singles and picked up straight set win of 6-1, 6-0 over Ashley Chomyn. At No. 2 doubles, the freshmen tandem of Thinnsen and Nesheim improved to 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in league play with a 6-3 decision of Swyter and Samantha Gutierrez. USF also had a 6-0 win by No. 3 doubles of Emily Applegate and Peyton Forney. 

BSU - While USF lost at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, the Cougars picked up wins at 3, 4, 5 and 6. With the doubles point, USF had the win. In the other four singles matches, USF had straight set wins. At No. 3 singles, sophomore Danielle Thorfinnson earned a 6-3, 6-3 win over Nicoleta Anestiadi. Her sister, Joelle Thorfinnson took a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles over Laney Rutkowski. At No. 5 singles, freshman Emily Thinnsen improved to 8-6 on the season with a 5-3 NSIC mark as she defeated Isabella Nelson, 6-3, 6-1. At No. 6 singles, USF had a straight set win from freshman Katelyn Nesheim, who improved to 11-3 on the season with a 7-1 league mark.  Nesheim defeated Lily Jones of BSU, 6-2, 6-0. The Thorfinnson sisters and Thinnsen/Nesheim registered doubles wins to give USF the point. At No. 2, Danielle Thorfinnson/Joelle Thorfinnson took a 6-0 win against Nicoleta Anestiadi/Laney Rutkowski as they moved to 6-3 in doubles with a 4-1 league mark. At No. 3, Katelyn Nesheim and Emily Thinnsen won their third straight match with a 6-1 victory over Isabella Nelson and Lexi Leitner.

Grebin is in his 22nd year at USF --
Kevin Grebin is in his 22nd year as the head coach for the University of Sioux Falls Women's Tennis Team.  Under his direction, Grebin has led the program through a DII transition and into success in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. A 2019 SD Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, Grebin has been involved with tennis for over 50 years.  A Sioux Falls native, Grebin was a standout player and later served as an instructor before taking over the USF program. Grebin, whose program has advanced to the NSIC Tournament four straight years, owns an overall record of 85-78 at the DII level, including 57-46 as a member of the NSIC. USF has a 2-6 record in NSIC Tourney play and reached the tournament semifinals twice (2015-16, 2018-19). During USF's time in the NSIC, Grebin's teams have recorded five winning seasons with at least five league wins in all nine years. His teams have had winning NSIC seasons six times including four straight years. His teams have seven wins in the NSIC four times (2021, 2018, 2016, 2015). USF had its best program mark of the DII era in 2016 in a 12-8 campaign which including a 7-4 league mark.