SIOUX FALLS, SD - With the overall match on the line tied 3-3, Emily Needham won the clincher to give the University of Mary Tennis team a 4-3 victory over Winona State in the NSIC Tennis quarterfinals. Needham's victory came in a super tiebreaker set, and she overcame a 0-3 deficit to keep the Marauders season alive. 

Head Coach Vida Saliendra credited Needham's composure in her performance. "I am proud of Emily as she knew the match was in her hands after seeing she was the only one left playing. It is a tough position to be in knowing the match is in your hands." Excluding a forfeit victory on April 16, Needham has now won four matches in a row. 

The Marauders will take on Minnesota State University in the NSIC semifinals Saturday at 2 pm. The Mavericks defeated Southwest Minnesota State University 4-0 in the day's first match. 

The Marauders earned a match point with solid performances in each of the doubles matches. Chloe Chong and Ilona Freitag blazed to an early 6-2 win in #1 doubles. Emily Needham and Samantha Purpura played well together but fell 4-6 in #3 doubles. Doaa Farouk Mohamed and Hala Hossam Awad finished with a 6-4 win in #2 doubles to give UMary the doubles advantage. 


University of Mary 4, Winona State 3
4/21/2023 at Sioux Falls, S.D. (Huether Family Match Pointe)

Singles competition

1. Murman, Beth (WSU) def. Chong, Chloe (UMARY) 6-4, 6-2

2. Kelly, Rachel (WSU) def. Mohamed, Doaa Farouk (UMARY) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

3. Awad, Hala Hossam (UMARY) def. Anderson, Sara (WSU) 6-1, 6-1

4. Freitag, Ilona (UMARY) def. Daulong, Miranda (WSU) 6-3, 6-2

5. Needham, Emily (UMARY) def. Thoemke, Clara (WSU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

6. Burger, Ally (WSU) def. Purpura, Samantha (UMARY) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Chong, Chloe/Freitag, Ilona (UMARY) def. Murman, Beth/Anderson, Sara (WSU) 6-2

2. Mohamed, Doaa Farouk/Awad, Hala Hossam (UMARY) def. Kelly, Rachel/Burger, Ally (WSU) 6-4

3. Daulong, Miranda/Thoemke, Clara (WSU) def. Needham, Emily/Purpura, Samantha (UMARY) 6-4

Match Notes

Winona State 9-9

University of Mary 11-5

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,1,4,6,2,5)

NSIC Tournament Quarterfinals

Official: John Antj Schreurs