For Immediate Release
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Player of the Week
Mia Leshem (So., Randburg, South Africa) - Bemidji State
- Helped the Beavers to two non-conference wins over St. Scholastica and Minnesota Duluth
- Went 2-0 in singles play and 2-0 in doubles
- Defeated Sophia Cosgrove (CSS) 6-2, 6-0 at No. 2 singles to open the season
- Defeated Carly Chaney (UMD) 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 singles
- Teamed with freshman Marla Davies to defeat Paula Sendele and Sophia Cosgrove (CSS) 6-3 
- Also defeated Courtney Eppen and Paige Heideman (UMD) at No. 1 Doubles

Other Top Performances
Paige Heideman (Minnesota Duluth)
- In her collegiate debut, went undefeated at No. 5 singles
- Had wins versus Bemidji State (6-2, 6-0) and St. Scholastica (6-1, 6-2)
- Also competed at No. 1 doubles 
Luzmary Diaz Castillo (MSU Moorhead)
- Defeated UMC's Daniela de Lucas Rivera in number one singles, 6-2, 6-1
- Teamed with Sophia Felderman, won number No. 1 doubles over de Lucas Rivera and Terez Drasilova, 7-5
Liliana Ruy Sánchez Mendivil (St. Cloud State)
- Went 2-0 in her collegiate debut in the Huskies 4-3 loss to Winona State
- Teamed with Lara-Maria Schafer in the No. 1 doubles
- Defeated Lainy Ristau and Ally Burger 6-2
- Came away with a straight set win in the No. 1 singles spot after beating Ristau 6-3, 6-4
Clara Thoemke (Winona State)
- Led Winona State to a 4-3 victory over St. Cloud State
- Teamed up with Izabel Barr to defeat Chapman and Vinichenko of SCSU 7-5 at No. 2 doubles
- Clinched the team victory with a 7-5, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles over SCSU's Vinichenko.
NSIC Women's Tennis Players of the Week
2/3/26
Mia Leshem - Bemidji State
 
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in 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 three decades, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 122 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 can 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.