MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State University women's tennis team (4-3, 4-0 NSIC) returns to the court this Sunday in St. Peter, Minn., with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match versus Minnesota State (2-8, 1-5 NSIC) at 11:30 a.m. before taking on Gustavus Adolphus College (2-0) at 5:30 p.m. in a non-conference match. Both matches will take place at the Swanson Tennis Center on the campus of Gustavus.
 
            HEAD COACH
•Jon Parker is in his second season as head coach with an overall record of 5-10.
•The 10th head coach in team history, Parker was named to the position on Jan. 9, 2020.
•Parker served two seasons (2017-18) as head coach at Northeastern State (Okla.), leading the Riverhawks to a 39-11 overall recording, including 18-0 in conference play, and a pair of NCAA Tournaments. He was named the 2018 MIAA Coach of the Year.
•Parker was also a successful girls' and boys' high school coach in Oklahoma and Texas.
 
            SERIES HISTORY VS. MINNESOTA STATE
•SMSU and MSU meet for the 28^th time with MSU holding a 26-11 advantage.
•SMSU won the last meeting, 5-2, during the 2019 season.
•Prior to the victory in 2019, MSU had won the previous 15 matches from 2004-17.  
 
            SERIES HISTORY VS. GUSTAVUS
•SMSU and Gustavus match-up for the 24th time with GAC leading 19-4.
•GAC has won eight of the last nine meetings since 2004 with SMSU's lone win coming during the 2015 season.
 
            SMSU COURT NOTES
•SMSU, 4-0 in conference play, last played on March 6, losing to Nebraska-Kearney, 6-1, in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Mustangs also lost at Northwest Missouri State (March 4) and at Missouri Western State (March 5).
•SMSU had a pair of NSIC matches postponed on Feb. 28 versus Augustana and Sioux Falls due to poor road conditions. SMSU will now play Augustana on April 14 and Sioux Falls on April 16 with both matches in Sioux Falls, S.D.
•Maja Louisa Harck and Gwendolen Sior each lead the team with four singles victories. Harck has one win each at No. 3 and No. 4 and two wins at No. 5. Sior has registered three victories at No. 3 and one at No. 5.
•Maegan Flight, Silvia Poulakidas and Courtenay Leonard all have three victories in singles play with Flight earning all three at No. 1.
•Harck and Leonard have teamed up for four victories at No. 2 doubles.
•Kennedy Torgerson recorded her first collegiate victory versus Minnesota Crookston on Feb. 21 with a straight set win at No. 6 singles.
 
            HARCK NAMED NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
•SMSU freshman Maja Louisa Harck was named the NSIC Player of the Week on Feb. 16. She is the first Mustang player to earn the award since Ashley Hoehne in 2016.
•Harck went a combined 4-0 versus Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State, winning both singles matches and teaming with Courtenay Leonard on a pair of wins at No. 2 doubles.
 
            LOOKING FOR WINNING LEAGUE RECORD
•SMSU last recorded a winning season in conference play during the 2008 season, finishing 5-2.
•The last time SMSU won four matches in conference play occurred during the 2010 season, while the last time the program recorded five league wins came in 2009.
 
            PRESEASON NSIC POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 10th in the preseason NSIC Coaches' poll. The top eight teams in the final regular season standings qualify for the NSIC Tournament in April 23-24 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
 
            MUSTANG HISTORY
•The 2021 season marks the 44th year of intercollegiate tennis at SMSU. The program won nine straight conference championships from 1984-92 and also placed at the NAIA Championships each season from 1984-93.
•SMSU's highest finish at the NAIA Championships was 11th in 1990. SMSU also finished 12th in 1989, 13th in 1988, 14th in 1992, 16th in 1991, 17th in both 1984 and 1985 and 19th in 1987.