This week
Augustana (6-1, 2-0 NSIC) faces three conference opponents this weekend in Bemidji, Minn. The Vikings play Minnesota, Crookston (0-2, 0-2) Saturday at 9 a.m. followed by Bemidji State (0-3, 0-0 NSIC) at 1 p.m. On Sunday, Augustana takes on Minnesota Duluth (3-5, 1-2 NSIC) at 9 a.m.
Last time out
Augustana won its fourth-straight dual Sunday, sweeping Southwest Minnesota State, Montana State Billings and U-Mary 9-0 last weekend.
NSIC honors
Augustana's
Michelle Wadas was selected the NSIC Tennis Player of the Week Tuesday after posting a 6-0 record last weekend and helping the Vikings sweep Southwest Minnesota State, Montana State Billings and U-Mary 9-0. In Augustana's conference-opening match against SMSU, Wadas had a 6-2, 6-2 win over Angie Wiegmann at No. 1. She also played No. 1 doubles with
Adrienne Conley for an 8-3 victory. Against MSUB, Wadas and Conley downed their opponents 8-0, and she went on to earn a 6-2, 6-0 singles win in the dual. Wadas finished the weekend strong, blanking U-Mary's Brianna Thomas 6-0, 6-0 at the top singles spot. She also paired with
Katie Jesperson at No. 1 to beat Thomas and Julia Amundson 8-1.
Sweeps
Augustana posted 12 sweeps in its three duals last weekend. The duos of
Hannah Gebauer and
Heather Sullivan,
Gabrielle Kachena and
Jessica Spalding and
Michelle Wadas and
Adrienne Conley all posted 8-0 doubles wins. Vikings who won singles matches 6-0, 6-0 include Conley, Gebauer,
Jenna Helleberg,
Liz Lewis, Spalding, Sullivan and Wadas. Lewis and Spalding recorded two singles sweeps over the weekend.
Conference competition
Augustana hasn't lost an NSIC contest since 2009. The Vikings went 10-0 in conference matches in 2010 and they were 11-0 last season. Augustana has two NSIC wins this season over Southwest Minnesota State and U-Mary. The last time the Vikings lost to a conference opponent was on Feb. 28, 2009, to St. Cloud State (7-2).
Regional rankings
Augustana is No. 1 in the inaugural Central Region rankings of the spring season, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced this week. The Vikings (6-1, 2-0 NSIC) beat out NSIC-opponents Upper Iowa (No. 3), St. Cloud State (No. 6) and Winona State (No. 8) to receive the top nod. Nebraska-Kearney is ranked second. To view the complete rankings, click
here.
Vikings in regional rankings
Katie Jesperson and
Michelle Wadas received individual regional rankings from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association this week. Jesperson, who is 4-1 overall in singles, is ranked fourth. Wadas (8-1 overall) is No. 15. With a 5-1 record in doubles action, Jesperson and Wadas are third.
National rankings
Augustana received votes in the latest national rankings released Nov. 9. To view the complete rankings, click here.
We're back
Seven Vikings return this spring from Augustana's 2011 squad that finished 21-3 overall and advanced to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championship, the farthest in program history. This year's squad will also be fighting to defend their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference crown for the third-consecutive season.
Who's new
There are two fresh faces adding depth to the Vikings' 2012 roster. Grand Island, Neb., native
Jenna Helleberg and
Heather Sullivan from Mankato, Minn., are new to Augustana this season.
Coaches' corner
In 2011,
Marc Kurtz's third year as head coach of the women's team, the Vikings advanced to the NCAA round of 16 for the first time in school history. Augustana successfully defended its NSIC crown and defeated Nebraska-Kearney to earn a place on the national stage. The Vikings now have won 21 consecutive conference matches, going unbeaten over the last two seasons. At the conclusion of the 2011 campaign, Augustana was listed 28th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings. It is the highest national ranking in program history.
Next up
Augustana plays three matches in Winona, Minn., next weekend against MSU Moorhead, Upper Iowa and Winona State.
