WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University women's tennis team official opens its 2019 season on Saturday afternoon with a non-conference match against the College of Saint Benedict. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Winona Tennis Center.

Match Notes

PRESEASON PICK: Winona State was tabbed third in the 2019 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll after finishing second in the 2018 regular season standings (14-3, 10-1 NSIC). The nine-time defending NSIC Champions from Augustana were picked atop the poll once again. MSU Moorhead, who the Warriors split with last year, were voted second in the poll.

CORE FOUR: The Warriors are a young but experience group entering the new year, carrying a roster without any seniors. Juniors Tayla Card, Kendra Kappes and Kaisey Skibba, along with sophomore Caitlin Anderson are the veterans of the squad and bring plenty of experience. Kappes went 14-3 in singles and earned NSIC Second Team Doubles honors with a 12-4 record. Card went 13-3 in singles last season and was 12-1 at doubles three. The group has led WSU to back-to-back 14-win seasons. The Warriors' 10 NSIC wins last year were their most since 2013.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: Eighth-year head coach Heather Reilly's 2019 team features four freshmen, including the Warriors' NSIC Player to Watch – Beth Murman. The Fort Dodge, Iowa native was a two-time state co-ed doubles champion and a 2A doubles state champion. Murman went 17-4 as a senior at Fort Dodge High School last year.

SNOW BIRDS: The Warriors will soon escape the Polar Vortex with their annual Spring Break trip to Florida on March 10-13. Winona State will play four matches during the trip with three in Orlando and one in St. Petersburg at Eckerd College. The Warriors went 3-1 on last year's trip.

BOOK WORMS: Along with their success on the court last season, the Warriors posted a collective 4.0 GPA in the classroom during the spring semester for a team 3.79 GPA during the 2017-18 school year. All seven eligible team members also earned NSIC All-Academic honors.