First serve
The Vikings head on their second road trip of the season with matches against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foes Minnesota, Crookston and Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, March 23. The Vikings finish their trip with a match against College of St. Scholastica on March 24 at 9 a.m. The UMC Golden Eagles are 0-2, overall and in NSIC play, in the 2013 season and the UMD Bulldogs are 1-4 overall and 1-3 in NSIC matches. All matches will take place in Virginia, Minn., near the campus of Minnesota Duluth.
Same as it ever was
The Vikings made quick work of a pair of NSIC opponents in 9-0 victories over both Upper Iowa and Southwest Minnesota State. The Vikings hosted both teams and sent them packing after crushing defeats. Not one Viking lost a set in the singles matches while the doubles teams didn't allow its opponents to win more than four games in their eight-game super set matches.
Against Upper Iowa, the Vikings rolled out their usual six singles players and kept Upper Iowa on their heels all match. Three different Vikings shut out their UIU adversary in a set and no one allowed a Peacock tennis player more than three games in a set.
Jessa Richards and
Hannah Gebauer blanked their Upper Iowa opponent 8-0 at No. 2 doubles to highlight the wide-court matches.
Augustana took advantage of Southwest Minnesota State's weak tennis tradition and gave several reserves playing time in the 9-0 victory over the Mustangs. Richards gave No. 1 singles staple
Katie Jesperson a rest and performed exceedingly well.
Liz Lewis and
Jessica Spalding each saw action at No. 5 and 6 singles, respectively. Lewis won 6-0, 6-1 while Spalding came out victorious 6-2, 6-2. Richards and Gebauer also played No. 1 doubles against SMSU and won 8-3.
Gabrielle Kachena and
Liz Lewis saw their first action as a doubles pairing this season and won at No. 3, 8-2.
Richards reigns as player of the week
It only took three weeks for
Jessa Richards to let the NSIC know there is a force to be reckoned with at No. 2 singles and doubles this season. Richards earned player of the week honors from the conference in their third release and is the second Viking to be honored in as many weeks. Richards has yet to lose a match in her collegiate career, tallying 6-0 records in both singles and doubles. Richards has played at No.2 singles and doubles for most matches, but showcased her skills by winning at No. 1 singles and doubles on Sunday against SMSU. Richards and
Hannah Gebauer were ranked eighth in the preseason doubles rankings for the Central Region.
Series Histories
Since joining the NSIC, Augsutana is 5-0 against both Minnesota, Crookston and Minnesota Duluth. Using individual match results, The Vikings are 44-0 against Minnesota, Crookston and 38-3 against Minnesota Duluth in those years. The Vikings have not dropped an individual match since 2009 against the Bulldogs, a streak currently residing at 32-0. Augustana looks to expand upon their recent domination of the NSIC with their two matches this weekend.
Coaches' corner
Marc Kurtz is in his fifth season as the head coach for the Augustana women's tennis program and it has been a fruitful four years prior. After finishing in a tie for fourth in his first season, Kurtz has led his team to 39 straight NSIC victories and three straight conference titles. During his tenure, Kurtz owns a 73-22 overall dual match, record including a 39-3 conference mark.
Second serve
Augustana will face Division I Upper Iowa in Waterloo, Iowa on March 3 as their final match before embarking on their spring trip to Orlando, Fla.
