SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana women's tennis team topped North Dakota 5-2 Sunday in exhibition action. The action is the first for the Vikings since ending the 2020 spring undefeated at 13-0. Although Augustana played as an exhibition, it was the regular season opener for North Dakota.
 
The Vikings garnered the doubles point after winning all three matches. Valeriya Monko and Florentia Hadjigeorgiou teamed up at No. 1 doubles to win 6-3. Laura Arce Vieyra and Grace Goble played No. 2 doubles, winning 6-4. Number three doubles were played by Aleksandra Kistanova and Emily Granson and claimed a 6-4 victory.
 
"I was really proud of our women and the composure they showed today," Augustana head coach Marc Kurtz said. "We have a young team and they were ready from the first ball. We played awesome in doubles with the sweep. We carried that momentum over to our singles and had a very nice team win."
 
Augustana claimed singles victories at No. 1, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 in the exhibition. Monko won 7-6, 6-4 in the top singles. Goble picked up the victory at No. 4 at a 6-3, 7-6 score. Kistanova fought for a 5-7, 6-2, 10-2, victory at No. 5 singles while Granson tallied a 6-2, 7-6, win at No. 6 singles.
 
The Fighting Hawks were picked third in their conference preseason poll.
 
"This was exactly the kind of match we needed to get us prepared for season," Kurtz added. "We will rest up and get ready for some important regional matches next weekend."
 
The Augustana men also played a pair of exhibitions against North Dakota, falling 7-0 on Saturday and 6-1 on Sunday.
 
"We ran into a strong North Dakota men's team this weekend," Kurtz said. "We had some great individual performances and I was happy with the way we played doubles.
 
"Cade Damgaard and North Knewtson played No. 1 doubles and won both their matches this weekend. We played solid singles and it was good to get out there and compete."
 
The aforementioned Damgaard and Knewtson tallied victories in doubles by scores of 6-3 and 7-5 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
 
Damgaard also played No. 1 singles tough on Sunday before falling 6-4, 1-6, 9-10.
 
The lone singles victory came at No. 6 singles by Tory Shafer on Sunday when he won 6-2, 6-1.
 
"We have a few weeks to recover and then we get back at it on Feb. 6 against Mount Marty," Kurtz said.