First serve
Augustana returns from their spring trip and back to NSIC action with a doubleheader in Northern Minnesota. The Vikings, with a record of 12-2 (7-0 NSIC) head to St. Cloud, Minn. to face St. Cloud State (10-7, 5-0 NSIC) at 10:30 a.m. and Bemidji State (0-8, 0-7 NSIC) at 1:30 p.m.
Jesperson named the NSIC's best
Katie Jesperson tallied a 7-1 record, including a 4-0 mark on the singles circuit to earn NSIC tennis player of the week. Jesperson's wins carried a little more weight thanks to the competition the junior faced. The Vikings faced the fifth-ranked junior college squad and a pair of Division I institutions on their trip to Florida. Jesperson defeated ASA College's top singles player in three sets and dropped Chicago State's No. 1 In straight sets. The Elk River, Minn. native then won in three sets over Radford's No. 1 singles and closed it out with a straight-set victory over Division II St. Michael's top singles flight. In doubles, Jepserson teamed up with
Michelle Wadas and posted a 3-1 record, recording just their loss of the year. The only loss came in a tiebreaker against ASA College, losing 9-8. The No. 1 doubles tandem then beat both D-1 opponents 8-6 on the following two days. To close out the week, Jesperson and Wadas nearly shut out St. Michael's 8-1. Jesperson is now 11-1 in singles and 11-3 in doubles for the 2013 season.
Spring trip recap
The Vikings lost their first two matches of the year and recorded a 2-2 mark on their spring trip to Orlando, Fla. Augustana's defeats both came at a 5-4 score and against very talented opponents. The Vikings fell to the fifth-ranked junior college squad, ASA College, 5-4 on the first day of competition. The No. 1 doubles match was an exciting one and a match that sculpted the final score. The Vikings duo of Jesperson and Wadas fell in a final tiebreaker 9-8. Augustana responded with a 6-3 win over Division I Chicago State, but the Vikings wouldn't be as fortunate the following morning against D-1 Radford. The Vikings lost their second match of the year, again by a score of 5-4, to the Highlanders. To close out the trip, Augustana faced its only Division II opponent and proved their dominance yet again. Augustana blanked the Purple Knights 9-0 and each singles match was decided in straight sets.
Series History
Dating back to 2009, the Vikings' first season in the NSIC, Augustana is 5-0 against Bemidji State, surrendering just four individual matches. In the last three matches, the Vikings have shut out the Beavers, 9-0 each time. The series with St. Cloud is not nearly as lopsided. The Huskies hold a slight 5-4 edge over the Vikings, but recently, Augustana has owned SCSU. The Vikings have won the past four matches, improving their margin of victory each time. Most recently the Vikings defeated SCSU twice last season. In the regular season, Augustana beat St. Cloud State 8-1 and in the NSIC team tournament, the Vikings beat the Huskies 5-2, not needing to finish the final two matches. St. Cloud State is one of three teams undefeated in NSIC pay this year.
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 33 straight NSIC victories and three straight conference titles. During his tenure, Kurtz owns an 85-24 overall dual match, record including a 46-3 conference mark.
Second serve
The Vikings close out the season in two weeks with three matches over two days. Augustana will face MSU Moorhead, Winona State, and Northern State in Fargo, N.D. on April 6 and 7.
