OWATONNA — The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s tennis team split a pair of tight conference matches on Saturday, losing to the University of Mary, 4-3, but rebounded to earn a big 4-3 win over MSU Moorhead. Both matches were played at the Owatonna West Tennis Center.

The split keeps SMSU tied for second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standing with a 7-2 record. SMSU, now 7-6 overall, will conclude league play this upcoming week with a pair of matches before the NSIC Tournament begins on April 23.

In the win over MSUM (8-3, 8-3 NSIC), the Mustangs lost the doubles point as only SMSU’s No. 2 team of Cora Delich and Gwendolen Sior were able to secure a win by a 6-3 score.

Trailing 1-0 heading into singles play, the Mustangs were able to bounce back and take the match with four singles victories. Maja Louisa Harck started the comeback with a 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 3, while Delich earned a straight set, 6-4, 6-0, victory at No. 5.

SMSU lost at both No. 4 and No. 6, but Courtenay Leonard rallied to win 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 2, before Flight earned a huge win at No. 1, rallying for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory and lifting SMSU to the team win.

In the loss to UMary (7-3, 7-3 NSIC), once again the Mustangs were not able to secure the doubles point with Flight and Leonard winning at No. 1 by a score of 6-4, but SMSU lost 6-3 at No. 2 and 6-2 at No. 3.

In singles play, Flight won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 1, Harck earned a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 4, while Delich secured a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 5. The match came down to No. 6 singles, but Silvia Poulakidas dropped a hard-fought match at No. 6, by scores of 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Both Harck (9-0) and Flight (8-0) are undefeated in league singles matches this season.

Southwest Minnesota State will face first place Augustana on Wednesday afternoon in Sioux Fall, S.D., before closing the regular season at the University of Sioux Falls on Friday.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications