For Immediate Release
Monday, March 23, 2026
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Player of the Week
Maria Fiacan (Sr., Geneva, Switzerland) – Augustana
- Helped Augustana to a 2-0 record against St. Cloud State and Sioux Falls 
- Won at No. 1 singles over SCSU’s Lilianna Mendivil (6-1, 6-0) 
- Won at No. 1 singles over USF’s Chloe Siegfort (6-1, 6-3) 
- Earned wins at No. 1 doubles in both matches (6-1 vs. SCSU, 6-0 vs. USF) 

Other Top Performances
Paula Garcia Acebal – Bemidji State
- Went 1-1 at No. 2 singles and 2-0 at No. 2 doubles 
- Defeated Asli Oktay of Minnesota Crookston at No. 2 singles 
- Teamed with Lauren Rutten to earn doubles wins over UMC and MSUM 
Julie van Zeijl – Jamestown
- Went 4-0 on the weekend at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles 
- Defeated Winona State’s Lainy Ristau 6-4, 6-4 in singles 
- Defeated Minnesota State’s Julia Gurholt 6-4, 6-2 in singles 
- Remains undefeated in doubles this season with partner Bodil van Zeijl 
- Defeated WSU No. 1 double 6-0 and MSU No. 1 double 7-5
Daniela de Lucas Rivera – Minnesota Crookston
- Helped UMC to wins over Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State 
- Earned a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles against Minnesota Duluth 
- Defeated Mia Leshem of Bemidji State 6-4, 6-0 at No. 1 singles 
- Teamed with Terez Drasilova for No. 1 doubles wins over UMD (6-0) and BSU (6-2) 
Amanda Blanco-Epple – Minnesota State
- Finished 4-0 in singles and doubles during a 2-0 week for the Mavericks 
- Won at No. 5 singles against UMary (6-2, 6-4) 
- Won at No. 5 singles against Jamestown (6-7, 6-3, 7-5) 
- Teamed with Taina Cordeiro for No. 3 doubles wins over UMary and Jame-stown 
Luzmary Diaz Castillo – MSU Moorhead
- Posted a 2-0 singles record and a doubles victory during the week 
- Defeated Bemidji State’s Mia Leshem at No. 1 singles (7-5, 2-6, 6-2) 
- Earned a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles over Minnesota Duluth’s Carly Chaney 
- Teamed with Sophia Felderman for a 6-1 doubles win over Bemidji State 
Debbie Ogdahl – Winona State
- Went 4-0 on the weekend against Jamestown and UMary 
- Won at No. 6 singles vs. Jamestown (6-2, 7-6) 
- Won at No. 6 singles vs. UMary (6-2, 6-3) 
- Added doubles victories at No. 2 doubles vs. Jamestown (6-2) and No. 3 dou-bles vs. UMary (7-5)
 
NSIC Women's Tennis Players of the Week
2/3/26
Mia Leshem - Bemidji State
2/10/26
Paula Garcia Acebal - Bemidji State
2/17/26
Liliana Ruy Sánchez Mendivil - St. Cloud State
2/24/26
Mia Garcia - Augustana
3/2/26
Julia Gurholt - Minnesota State
3/9/26
Liliana Ruy Sánchez Mendivil - St. Cloud State (2)
3/16/26
Fernanda Sandoval – Augustana
3/23/26
Maria Fiacan  – Augustana

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 126 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.