WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University women's tennis team looks to keep its perfect NSIC record in tact with matches against Sioux Falls and Augustana University this weekend at the Winona Tennis Center. The Warriors host the Cougars on Friday at 6:30 p.m. with the homestand finale set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday against the Vikings.
WSU and Augie are both 4-0 in conference play this season as the Warriors will look to knock off the preseason favorite Vikings.
Following the homestand, the Warriors travel to Fargo, N.D. for a pair of NSIC matches next weekend ahead of their annual Spring Break Florida trip set for March 10-13. Winona State will then play three more conference matches in March prior to the NSIC Tournament.
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SCOUTING SIOUX FALLS: The Cougars (2-2, 2-2 NSIC) have won two straight entering the weekend with conference victories over Bemidji State (4-1) and Minnesota Crookston (6-1). Sioux Falls was picked to finish fifth in the NSIC Preseason Poll behind Augie, MSU Moorhead, WSU and Bemidji. The Cougars have had 10 individual players compete in singles action this year with eight different doubles team combinations. Megan Quandt (Singles No. 2) is the only USF player with a record above .500 (2-1). The Warriors have won two straight against the Cougars, including a 6-3 victory last season.
SCOUTING AUGIE: The Vikings (6-0, 4-0 NSIC) have continued their incredible run of 103 consecutive NSIC match wins. Augie is the nine-time defending conference regular season champion and has won the postseason title eight straight years. At Singles No. 1, Kornelia Staniszewska is undefeated (4-0) and has teamed with Laura Arce Vieyra for a 4-0 Doubles No. 1 record. Anca Rusu (Singles No. 5) is the only Viking with a loss on her record (3-1).
FIVE LOVE: Junior Kendra Kappes has opened the season with a 5-0 record at Singles No. 2 for the Warriors. Kappes is now 33-6 in her singles career. She earned 2017 NSIC Singles Honorable Mention recognition and was a 2018 NSIC Doubles Second Team recipient.
HYPE CONFIRMERD: After being named Winona State's Player to Watch in the NSIC Preseason Poll, freshman Beth Murman has lived up to her expectations so far this season. The rookie is 4-1 at Singles No. 1 and 4-1 at Doubles No. 1 with partner Kaisey Skibba. Murman was a standout at Fort Dodge High School where she took fifth at the Class 2A state tournament in singles and won the doubles state title.
CORE FOUR: Without a senior on the 2019 roster, the Warriors experienced group of junior players have been solid all year. Along with Kappes perfect record, Tayla Card (Singles No. 4) and Caitlin Anderson (Singles No. 6) are 4-1 this season. Skibba has posted a 3-2 record and is 3-1 against NSIC opponents.
