MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State University women's tennis team (4-14, 3-6 NSIC) plays a pair of big Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matches this Friday and Saturday in Bemidji, Minn., in search of securing a spot in the eight-team upcoming NSIC Tournament.
 
SMSU is currently tied for eighth place in the NSIC standings and will take on ninth place Minnesota Crookston on Friday at 5:30 p.m. before closing the regular season versus 10^th place Bemidji State on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Both matches will take place at the Gillett Wellness Center.
 
SMSU has played in the last three NSIC Tournaments, including advancing to the semifinals last season.
 
                    HEAD COACH
•Jon Parker is in his fourth season as head coach with an overall record of 31-40, including 20-19 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 CROOKSTON
•SMSU and UMC meet for the 19^th time with SMSU leading 17-2.
•SMSU has won the last nine matches, including a 6-1 victory last season in Owatonna, Minn.
 
                    SERIES HISTORY VS. BEMIDJI STATE
•SMSU and BSU meet for the 42^nd time with SMSU leading 29-12.
•SMSU has won the last two matches by scores of 4-3.  
•Prior to SMSU's current two-match win streak, BSU won seven straight matches from 2014-20.