WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University women's tennis team will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D. for a pair of NSIC road matches this weekend. The Warriors (10-1, 7-0 NSIC) will look to keep their perfect conference record intact against a pair of challenging opponents.
Winona State travels to the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday night for a 6:30 p.m. match followed by a Sunday morning tilt against Augustana University at 9 a.m.
The Warriors and Vikings of Augustana enter the weekend tied for first place atop the NSIC standings.
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PRESEASON PICK: Winona State was tabbed second in the 2018 NSIC Coaches' Preseason Tennis Poll, tying Upper Iowa with 98 points. The Warriors tallied one first-place vote. Augustana collected the other 11 first-place votes as the preseason favorite to win the conference (121 total points).
HOT START: Winona State (10-1 overall) is off to its first 7-0 start in conference play since the 2013 campaign when that Warrior squad opened NSIC play with a perfect 8-0 record. Winona's lone blemish this season came in a 5-3 setback to Christian Brothers University earlier this month in Florida.
BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY: If Winona State and Augustana each tally wins on Saturday to remain undefeated then Sunday's match will be a battle for sole possession of first place in the NSIC standings. Winona State will take on a competitive Sioux Falls team on Saturday while Augustana hosts Upper Iowa. The Vikings are the eight-time defending NSIC Champions and have won 95 consecutive conference matches.
PERFECT PAIR: Senior Kali Hackmann and Sophomore Tayla Card have started off the spring season with a bang. The two Warriors are both undefeated (11-0) in singles matches and a perfect 8-0 as doubles partners. These ladies have quickly asserted themselves on the court as Winona State's anchor on an immensely talented team.
ALL-NSIC RETURNERS: Four Warriors garnered All-Conference honors at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, each of which return for this season. Rachel Gantz was named to the Singles Second Team and Kendra Kappes earned Singles Honorable Mention. Justin Daane and Kaisey Skibba each received Honorable Mention status for doubles' play.
FINAL HOMESTAND: The Warriors next homestand will be its final of the season on April 7-8 at the Winona Tennis Center. Senior Day is slated for Sunday, April 8 in a match against MSU-Moorhead with first serve scheduled at 12 p.m.
