For Immediate Release
Monday, March 29, 2021
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Player of the Week
Valeriya Monko (Fr., Rostov-On-Don, Russia / International School In Novie Veshki, Moscow) - Augustana
- Went undefeated against UMary and MSU Moorhead besting the No. 1 singles leaders from both teams
- Won 6-2, 6-2 against UMary's Tasha Dembo and 6-2, 6-3 against MSU Moorhead's Julia Geske
- A won at No. 1 doubles against both teams with partner Florentia Hadjigeorgiou
- Remains undefeated her freshman season at 12-0 in both singles and doubles
- Named NSIC Player of the Week for the third time this season (2/9/21 & 3/15/21)

2021 NSIC Women's Tennis Stats

Other Top Performances
Sophie Groen (BSU) went 4-0 to lead BSU to a 1-1 record in NSIC play. She was 2-0 in singles play as BSU No. 1 player. She won 6-0, 6-0 at Minnesota Duluth and 6-2, 6-2 versus SCSU. She then teamed up with Shaelyn Johnson to post a 2-0 record in No. 1 doubles play. They recorded a 6-4 win at Minnesota Duluth before claiming a 6-3 victory over SCSU. Is 5-4 in singles play at No. 1 singles this year. Is 7-1 as a member of BSU's top doubles pair this season.

Varvara Ogorodnikova (UIU) did not drop a single set over the weekend as she won her No. 2 doubles and No. 2 singles matches in each of UIU's two NSIC Duals. On Saturday, she and No. 2 doubles partner Lina Ziani made an impressive comeback after being down 5-2 to claim a 7-5 win in their doubles match before going on to win her No. 2 singles match 7-5, 6-3, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to win six straight games in the second set. On Sunday, she helped lead the Peacocks a to 5-2 win in the dual as she and Ziani picked up another 7-5 win in No. 2 doubles and won 6-3, 6-4 in No. 2 singles.

Kelly Rachel (WSU) compiled an undefeated weekend for Winona State, taking part of two dominant doubles performances, as she paired with teammate Rina Niehoff to beat both Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State in No. 2 doubles action, with 6-1 and 6-0 wins respectively. Playing at No. 2 singles for the Warriors, Kelly beat MSU's Dee Dokken 6-0, 6-1 on Friday and battled back to win over SMSU’s Courtenay Leonard, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. Kelly was key in helping Winona State move to 8-3 overall and 7-2 in NSIC play.
 
NSIC Women's Tennis Players of the Week
2/9/21
Valeriya Monko - Augustana
2/16/21
Maja Louisa Harck  - SMSU
2/23/21
Tasha Dembo - University of Mary
3/1/21
Julia Geske - MSU Moorhead
3/15/21
Valeriya Monko - Augustana (2) 
3/22/21
Beth Murman  - Winona State
3/29/21
Valeriya Monko - Augustana (3) 

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 23 team national championships and crowned 77 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes have the opportunity to earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.