SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The 10-time defending NSIC Champion Augustana women's tennis team opens NSIC play Saturday and Sunday at GreatLIFE Woodlake Athletic Club in Sioux Falls. The Vikings host Minnesota Crookston at 7 p.m. Saturday and Bemidji State at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
 
Quotable
"We had a good start to the season this past weekend and the team is ready to start NSIC play," head coach Marc Kurtz said. "We have a very deep team this year and we are excited for conference play to begin."
 
The Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston is 0-1 in dual action after falling 7-0 to Bemidji State this past Wednesday. The Golden Eagles were tabbed 12^th in the Preseason NSIC Coaches' Poll, garnering 12 points.
 
Junior Ashley Smith was tabbed the UMC Player to Watch after playing No. 2 singles last season. She moved up to play in the No. 1 slot in three matches, the same spot she has started 2020 in. She fell 6-0, 6-0, in the opening dual of the year.
 
The Beavers
Bemidji State is 4-1 on the season and holds a 2-0 mark in NSIC action. The Beavers opened NSIC play on Feb. 1 with a 5-2 win over St. Cloud State before sweeping Minnesota Crookston 7-0 this past Wednesday.
 
The Beavers were tabbed seventh in the preseason NSIC poll with senior Ari Lopez-Simo picked as the player to watch. Lopez-Simo earned Second Team All-NSIC honors last season with a 10-4 record. She currently holds a 3-1 mark in 2020, all at the No. 1 singles position. Hannah Alme holds an unblemished 5-0 record this year, 4-0 at No. 2 singles and 1-0 in No. 1.
 
The Vikings
Augustana is 3-0 in dual action after picking up wins over Missouri Western (4-2), Arkansas Tech (4-1) and Newman (4-0) last weekend in St. Joseph, Missouri. Following the weekend, senior Taylor Jackson was named the NSIC Player of the Week with a 2-0 record in singles play and 3-0 mark in doubles action.
 
Freshman Emily Granson, freshman Aleksandra Kistanova and senior Anca Rusu also completed the weekend with an unblemished singles record.
 
Augustana, the preseason NSIC favorites, have won 110-straight NSIC duals.