MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State University women's tennis team (14-10, 6-3 NSIC) concludes Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this weekend with a pair of matches in Sartell, Minn. SMSU opens play on Saturday with a 4 p.m. match versus Minnesota Duluth (2-9, 2-7 NSIC) and concludes the weekend with a 1 p.m. match on Sunday versus St. Cloud State (9-8, 4-5 NSIC). Both matches will take place at the Sta-Fit Tennis Center.
 
SMSU begins the weekend tied for third place in the NSIC standings along with UMary and Minnesota State. SMSU has defeated both teams earlier this season. The top eight teams in the final regular season standings qualify for the NSIC Tournament on April 23-24 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
 
            SINGLE-SEASON VICTORIES
•This year's team has set the program NCAA Division II record for most victories in a single-season since moving to Division II in 1996. SMSU's two wins last weekend surpassed the 2019 team that won 13 matches. The last time SMSU won 14 matches in a season came during the 1992 season. The overall school record for wins in a season is 20 set during the 1987 season.
 
HEAD COACH
•Jon Parker is in his third season as head coach with an overall record of 24-25, including 15-13 in NSIC matches.
•The 10^th 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 DULUTH
•SMSU and UMD meet for the 42^ND time with UMD leading 26-15.
•SMSU's 4-3 victory last season in Lakeville, Minn., snapped UMD's 10-match winning streak in the series. 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. ST. CLOUD STATE          
•SMSU and SCSU meet for the 42^nd time with SCSU leading 35-6.
•SMSU earned a 4-3 win last season which snapped the Huskies' 27-match winning streak in the series.  
 
SMSU NOTES
•UMary won all three doubles matches to earn the team point, but SMSU rallied to win four singles matches to secure the victory.
•Courtenay Leonard earned a come-from-behind 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles, while Maja Louisa Harck picked up a hard-fought win at No. 4 by scores of 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
•Cora Delich secured a win at No. 5 in straight sets at 6-2, 6-3, while Faith Madikwe earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 6.
•For the season, Cora Delich has a team-high 14 victories in singles with eight at No. 5, two each at No. 2 and No. 4 and one at No. 3. She is 7-2 in NSIC matches
•Courtenay Leonard and Maja Louisa Harck each have 12 singles victories. Leonard has six victories at No. 1, Harck has six wins at No. 3.
•Joana Reis Indio has nine victories with three at No. 1 singles, while Abbey Agra has eight wins.
•Kristina Vuksanovic has recorded seven wins in singles with three at No. 4 and two each at No. 2 and No. 3.
•Delich and Roz Oye have combined for a team-high 13 victories in doubles play, including 6-3 in NSIC play.
 
LOOKING TO KEEP ITS WINNING WAYS
•SMSU had one of its most successful seasons in nearly 15 years in 2021, closing with a 9-8 overall record, including 8-3 in NSIC play.
•The third-place NSIC regular season finish was the program's highest since 2008, while the semifinal appearance in the league tournament was its first since the 2009 season.
•SMSU's winning record was just its third since the 1998 season.
 
2022 PRESEASON NSIC POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish fourth 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 2022 season marks the 45th 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 11^th in 1990. SMSU also finished 12^th in 1989, 13^th in 1988, 14^th in 1992, 16^th in 1991, 17^th in both 1984 and 1985 and 19^th in 1987.