Augustana Picked First in NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Augustana University was picked in the NSIC Preseason Women's Tennis Coaches’ Poll. The Vikings are the 11-time defending NSIC Champions and have won 129 consecutive NSIC regular season matches.

The Vikings amassed 121 points and all 11 first place votes after going 18-3 and 11-0 in the NSIC in 2021, while making an appearance in the NCAA Central Region Tournament. Winona State was second with 102 points and the other first place vote (coaches cannot vote for their own team). 

The preseason coaches’ poll is based off each coach ranking each team from 11 to 1 with the top team receiving 11 points, second 10, third 9, etc. 

The 2022 NSIC Women's Tennis season gets underway on Friday, February 4. The 2022 NSIC Women's Tennis Tournament will consist of the top eight teams in the final NSIC standings competing in a single elimination format on April 22-24 at Huether Family Match Pointe in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

• Enters first year at Augustana after graduating from the Business Academy and Hotel School Trebiv in Sosuvka, Czech Republic
• Played to a 9 UTR prior to joining Augustana
• This past fall, paired with Arce Vieyra  and competed in the 2021 ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia
• Was part of the first doubles team from Augustana to be selected since 2015 to the ITA Cup

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY 

Augustana returns all but two from last year's roster with the addition of freshman Gabriela Jancikova, who, paired with Laura Arce Vieyra competed in the 2021 ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia, last fall. The Vikings have won 11-straight NSIC Championships while winning 129-straight NSIC duals. 

Most recently, Augustana women's tennis earned its highest-ever ranking in the Division II Women's ITA Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll. The Vikings enter the spring dual season holding the No. 16 slot in the rankings. 

Augustana begins its dual season Feb. 5 at Emporia State in a region showdown with the NSIC season slated to begin Feb. 11 at Minnesota Duluth.

• Enters first year at Augustana after graduating from the Business Academy and Hotel School Trebiv in Sosuvka, Czech Republic
• Played to a 9 UTR prior to joining Augustana
• This past fall, paired with Arce Vieyra  and competed in the 2021 ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia
• Was part of the first doubles team from Augustana to be selected since 2015 to the ITA Cup

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

Bemidji State University tennis looks to find its place amongst NSIC standings after marking a 4-8 season in 2021, 4-7 NSIC. Head Coach, Kyle Fodness, says he is “very excited about the energy that this team can bring to the courts.” He cites that their chemistry all around has the ability to be a strength for the team and that they look forward to representing Bemidji State this season. In 2021, the Beavers earned two sweeps during their four wins, the first to open the season at home against University of Minnesota Crookston and the second versus Minnesota State University Mankato. This season, the team comes into play after two fall, non-conference shutouts over University of Wisconsin- River Falls and Concordia College.

BSU brings back most of their 2021 team this season including Sophomores Sophie Groen, Isabela Nelson and Shaelyn Johnson. Groen and Johnson dominated doubles play and were named to the All-NSIC First Team last season. Also, back for the Beavers are senior Laney Rutkowski and junior Taylor Offerdahl, rounding out the upperclassmen lineups. Groen, a Uigeest, Netherlands native, was named Bemidji State’s NSIC Preseason Athlete to Watch for the 2022 season. She was the second winningest Beaver during the 2021 season, marking six wins in 11 matches and was named to the 2021 All-NSIC Second Team for her singles play. 

• 2021 All-NSIC Second Team (Singles) and All-NSIC First Team (Doubles)
• Finished the season 6-5 in the Beavers’ No. 1 singles spot
• Tallied a .545 winning percentage
• Part of the Beavers’ top doubles team, winning 8-of-11 matches with Shaelyn Johnson
• Dominated doubles play, winning 49 games and losing just 19

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

The University of Mary tennis team looks to improve upon last season’s 8-4 record. Head coach Vida Saliendra brings in a young and dynamic team as five of the nine roster spots are taken by freshmen. Chloe Chong, Doaa Farouk Mohamed, Ilona Freitag, Callie McDonald and Emily Needham will all play a big role in the upcoming 2022 season.

Needham was honored in 2018 as the USTA Wyoming Junior Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In 2021 she was the recipient of the Jim Steadman High School Athletic Award for leadership on and off the court.  The 4-time All-State recipient won back-to-back Wyoming High School #1 singles State championships in 2019 & 2020. 

Chong was a team captain while playing in Malaysia and helped lead her team to a bronze medal in the ASEAN school games. Mohamed won several national titles while competing in Cairo, Egypt. Freitag won several individual and team competitions during her time in Switzerland. McDonald captained her high school team for her senior year and received All-Conference Honorable Mention honors for her efforts. 

One notable returner for the Marauders is Heidi Jacobson who competed as a five least season for the Marauders as she went 5-5 overall and 7-3 in doubles competition.

• Led her team to a bronze medal in the ASEAN school games
• Junior 16-under Masters Finals Single Champion (2018)
• Sumka Tennis Competition 21 and under champion (2018)

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

The Golden Eagle women's tennis team has welcomed back Josh Lunak as head coach. Lunak coached Minnesota Crookston from 2007-13. He will have a new look squad for the 2022 season. Minnesota Crookston looks to be led by Drury University transfer Madeleine Schneider, the team's NSIC Player to Watch. Schneider went 2-1 as a freshman in singles for a very strong Drury team. The Golden Eagles return sophomore Tasha Achermann, who played No. 1 singles last season, while Michelle Swyter, who competed at No. 2 singles, also returns. Ashley Chomyn is also back after playing No. 3 singles last season. The Golden Eagles also add Samantha Gutierrez, Sarah Velasquez, and Kaydance Hinn to the roster. All three have strong tennis experience and will increase the competitiveness of the Minnesota Crookston squad for the 2022 season.

• Transferred to UMN Crookston from Drury University
• Posted a 2-1 mark in singles for a Drury team that went 12-5 in 2021

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

This year's team will look to build upon their seventh place finish in the NSIC in 2021. The Bulldogs return one of their top performers from last season in sophomore, Shay Callaway. Callaway led the Bulldogs with 10 wins (9 NSIC wins). As a unit the Bulldogs enter the season with their largest roster in years. The flexibility for match-ups will provide the Bulldogs with a chance to see their five veterans set the tone. The Bulldogs will also rely on returners Isabel Thiner (who finished 6-5 last season in singles) and Mallory Lithun (who finished 5-7 in singles last season).  The Bulldogs also return their top doubles leader in Abby Johnson who went 9-3 overall and 8-2 in conference play.  UMD has reached the NSIC conference tournament in four consecutive seasons.

• Posted a 10-1 singles record (9-1 in NSIC play)
• Played at No. 1 doubles for most of the 2021 season 
• Started the year in the No. 6 position and played in both the No. 4 and 5 positions ins singles
• Ended the year with a seven match win streak
• Garnered a 5-3 doubles record primarily playing with Mallory Lithun in the No.1 and 2 position

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

The Minnesota State will see two letterwinners return from last season’s team, to go along with eight newcomers. Last season, Minnesota State went 2-14, including a 1-10 NSIC record. During its fall season in 2021, Minnesota State posted a 5-2 dual record. Junior Tristen Bryant-Otake paced the Mavericks during the fall season with eighth singles victories, including a 5-1 record in No. 1 singles matches. Freshman Elizabeth Felderman posted a 7-2 singles record during the fall season also, including a 3-0 record in No. 2 singles matches. Freshman Hana Minisy recorded seven singles victories as well, while freshman Taylor Julsrud recorded six. As a unit, the Mavericks posted a combined singles record of 44-35 during their fall season. The duo of Bryant-Otake and freshman Avery Stilwell posted a 6-1 doubles record for the Mavericks during the 2021 fall season, including a 3-1 record in No. 1 doubles action. As a team, MSU went 21-17 in doubles action during the fall season, including a 5-2 record in No. 1 doubles matches. Minnesota State opens its 2022 spring schedule with an exhibition dual against Nebraska-Omaha on January 21, before taking on Northwestern College (Iowa) on February 4. The Mavericks open their NSIC schedule on February 12 as they take on both Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston in Owatonna, Minnesota. 

• Posted an 8-1 singles record during MSU’s 2021 fall season
• Recorded a 5-1 record in No. 1 singles matches during fall season
• Went 8-1 in doubles action during fall season

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

Second-year head coach Jason Thiner returns four players with lineup experience from last year’s team that finished 9-4 and qualified for the NSIC tournament semifinals.

Senior Mikaela Griechen was 10-2 in singles and 8-5 in doubles a year ago and was All-NSIC honorable mention in singles. Senior Miranda Griechen was 8-4 in singles and 6-6 in doubles play. Senior Emma Andersen was 10-2 in singles a year ago, sharing the team lead for singles wins with Mikaela Griechen, along with going 7-5 in doubles. Andersen mostly teamed in doubles with sophomore Madison Bell, who was 6-5 overall in doubles.

Junior Emily Carpenter is a transfer from St. Scholastica while freshmen Tia Dykema and Valerie Gall will look to contribute immediately.  Sophomore Greta Reichmann is a transfer from Concordia College, where she went 3-5 in doubles a year ago.

• Named All-NSIC honorable mention in singles
• Shared team lead with 10 singles wins
• Went perfect 10-0 at No. 4 singles
• Also shared team led with 8-5 doubles record

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS

After recording a second straight winning season and the fifth in the DII era in 2021, University of Sioux Falls Tennis Team is focused on continuing the momentum as the 2022 season opens on Feb. 12 at Minnesota-Duluth. USF, which has been projected to finish seventh in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, is coming off a 7-6 year in 2021 which included a 7-4 league finish and No. 6 seed at the NSIC Tennis Championships. In its history, USF has won at least five matches in nine tennis seasons in the NSIC and of that total, USF has six winning NSIC records. As the season gets underway, USF will be a deep and veteran team with numerous talented newcomers. "We are excited for the start of the season. Our team has worked really hard and will look to continue to grow as a squad. We face a challenging schedule but are excited about our opportunities which are ahead," said USF Tennis Coach Kevin Grebin, who has led USF to a 78-73 overall mark and 54-43 NSIC record since moving to DII. Leading the way will be USF’s Player to Watch senior Joelle Thorfinnson, who will play No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles. Thorfinnson, who was the program’s first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-District VII honoree, is a three time Academic All-NSIC recipient and a three-time ITA Academic honoree. With a 33-15 career mark and 25-10 in the NSIC, Thorfinnson, along with senior Megan Quandt, has led USF Tennis to a 34-27 overall record, three NSIC Tournament appearances and a 26-13 league mark during her time at USF. Quandt (19-11 singles, 24-33 doubles) also is a three-time Academic All-NSIC honoree. Sophomore Talia Janos (3-6 singles, 5-5 doubles) will be at No. 2 with Danielle Thorfinnson  (5-4 singles, 4-5 doubles) set at No. 3. Several players will battle for the No. 5 and No. 6 spots as well as No. 3 doubles, including Rhianna Cantine, Peyton Forney, Emily Applegate, Brianna Holm, Katelyn Nesheim, Emily Thinnsen, Ella Schmidt and Annika Randt. 

• Named program’s first-ever CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree
• Three-time Academic All-NSIC & two-time NSIC Academic Team of Excellence honoree 
• Three-time ITA Academic honoree 
• Led USF to a 34-27 career mark, three NSIC Tournament appearances and 26-13 NSIC mark
• Owns career record of 33-15, including 25-10, in the NSIC in singles with a 31-23 double mark with a 23-15 conference record

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s tennis team looks to continue its move up the NSIC standings in 2022. SMSU had one of its most successful seasons in nearly 15 years in 2021, closing with a 9-8 overall record, including 8-3 in NSIC play. The third-place regular season finish was the program’s highest since 2008, while the semifinal appearance in the league tournament was its first since the 2009 season. SMSU’s winning record was just its third since the 1998 season.

The Mustangs have four returning letter winners from last spring’s team and had several newcomers play big matches during the 2021 fall season. Sophomore Maja Louisa Harck returns after earning All-NSIC honorable mention in 2021, which included a 9-1 singles record in NSIC matches. She also recorded six victories in doubles play. Senior Cora Delich brings a wealth of experience for the Mustangs having been in the program for five seasons. She had six victories in NSIC singles play last spring and had four more wins in doubles action. Junior Courtenay Leonard played a strong No. 2 singles in 2021 with six victories in league play, while earning nine victories in conference action in doubles. Also returning is sophomore Daniela Poulakidas, who earned four wins in NSIC singles play last spring.

SMSU third-year head coach Jon Parker has five freshman and has added a pair of transfers to the roster for the 2022 season. 

• Closed the 2021 season 8-9 in singles play overall, including 6-5 in NSIC matches
• Played 14 matches at No. 2 singles and three at No. 3 singles in 2021
• Finished 9-7 in doubles play, including 9-2 in NSIC action in 2021
• In the fall 2021 season, she was 6-2 in singles play

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY 

St. Cloud State is coming off a 5-9 overall record in 2021, including a 3-8 mark in NSIC play where they finished ninth in the team standings.  The Huskies wins came against Minnesota State, Minnesota Crookston and Upper Iowa.  Of the eight losses in NSIC play, three were 3-4 scores.  Head Coach Berit Merrill will begin her fourth season as head coach of the St. Cloud State University women’s tennis team in 2022.  The Huskies begin their season with a pair of NSIC match ups in Grand Fork, North Dakota where they will take on Minnesota Crookston on Friday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. and Bemidji State on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.  

• Was 7-7 in 2021 playing No. 2 / No. 3 / No. 4 singles, including five wins in NSIC play
• Was 4-1 at No. 4 singles
• Teamed with Hina Goldsmith to go 2-1 at No. 1 Doubles last season
• Teamed with Olivia Fredrickson to got 3-1 at No. 2 Doubles a year ago

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

The Upper Iowa tennis team is prepared to get back in action with a competitive young crew. Head Coach Léo Millet leads UIU in his sixth season at the helm. The Peacocks finished the 2020-21 season with a 2-12 record overall and a 2-9 mark in the NSIC. Five of UIU’s regular six competitors held freshman designations last season. Varvara Ogorodnikova, Mya Herrmann, and Elaina Wall were in their second year with the Peacocks after their first season was cut short due to the pandemic, while Jessa Michieli and Lina Ziani were competing in their inaugural intercollegiate campaigns. Ogorodnikova led Upper Iowa with a 7-5 singles record after going 3-4 in No. 1 singles and 4-1 in No. 2 singles. The Samara, Russia native also finished with a 7-5 doubles record after going 2-3 in No. 1 doubles and 5-2 in No. 2 doubles. Ogorodnikova and Ziani were UIU’s best doubles duo with a 7-5 record as they finished the season on a five-match win streak in No. 2 doubles competition. Ziani and Michieli each finished with a 4-10 singles record, with Michieli playing in No. 1, 2, and 3 singles as she worked her way up throughout the season. Freshman Charalampia Grammatikaki and junior Padmasree Murugan are newcomers who have made immediate impacts as UIU went 2-2 in fall competition and competed against NCAA DI opponents in the Drake Invitational. The Peacocks open their NSIC schedule against the University of Mary and Minnesota State University Moorhead on Feb. 5-6.

• Posted a record of 6-2 in singles including a 3-1 mark at No. 1 in UIU’s four doubles in fall competition; only dropped two of her nine sets at No. 1 in the four duals
• Went 3-1 in singles at the Drake Invitational against NCAA DI opponents in her first collegiate contests
• Registered a 1-2 mark at No. 1 doubles in the four fall duals with partner Jessa Michieli, and a 1-0 mark at No. 2 doubles with Lina Ziani

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Winona State University women’s tennis team will look to continue their successful ways in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) this season, after a runner-up finish in the NSIC Tournament last year. 

Tom Sanvik is in his second year as the Warriors head coach and is looking forward to seeing high-level competition out of his squad this season. “I am excited about the team’s work ethic and its awesome veteran leadership” states Sanvik.

Winona State returns five players who were a focus in the lineup from a season ago, led by Beth Murman, who has three seasons at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles under her belt. Rachel Kelly will provide strength in the lineup as well, as she went 15-1 in both singles and doubles play last year, mainly at the No. 2 position for each. Rina Niehoff adds to the depth of WSU’s lineup after being named NSIC All-Conference Honorable Mention in both singles and doubles during the 2021 season. Brooke Jorgenson and Sara Anderson round out the returning core for Winona State’s deep and experienced lineup.

The Warriors two close matches in the books already this season, defeating Upper Iowa 4-3 and falling to Purdue Northwest 3-4 in the fall. WSU will look to open the championship portion of their season against MSU Moorhead and UMary on February 4th and 5th at the Winona Tennis Center.

• Held an 11-3 doubles record last season as a freshman
• Went 11-1 at No. 3 doubles (9-1 NSIC) during the regular season
• Spent time at both No. 5 and No. 6 singles in 2021 and compiled at 5-4 No. 6 singles record