MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State tennis team opens the 2009 season Thursday, traveling to Sartell, Minn., to square off with Division III St. Benedict in a 7 p.m. match.

Head coach George Seldat and the Mustangs return five letterwinners for the 2009 campaign in Ananda Ferrari, Danielle Hildebrandt, Amy Daniels, Trisha Baldwin and Cailey Grupe.

While this will be the official start of the 2009 season, the Mustangs have one match under their belts in 2008-2009 academic  year.  SMSU traveled to Kearney, Neb., for the ITA Regional.  Ferrari advanced to the quarterfinals of the singles tournament, before losing in three sets to Heather Pierce of Winona State.

Last season, SMSU finished its season with a 9-9 overall record and 5-2 in the NSIC.  Additionally, the Mustangs placed second in the NSIC Championships, their highest finish in the conference since 1993.

SMSU also finished second at the NSIC Championships; SMSU had 54 total points, just four behind first place Winona State's 58.  Upper Iowa was a close third with 53 points.  The second place finish was the highest since SMSU joined NCAA II.  The Mustangs last finished second in 1993, when they were still NAIA.  Southwest also brought home a number of individual honors (listed above).

SMSU's two individual champions were Trisha Baldwin at No. 6 singles and Cailey Grupe at No. 5 singles.

Thursday's Projected Line-up:
Singles
1.   Ananda Ferrari
2.   Danielle Hildebrandt
3.   Cailey Grupe
4.   Angie Wiegmann
5.   Toni Pribyl
6.   Katie Carlson

Doubles
1.   Ferrari/Hildebrandt
2.   Grupe/Wiegmann
3.   Pribyl/Carlson