Grand Forks, ND—With a chance to secure a bid in the Northern Sun Tournament for the first time since 2008, the University of Mary tennis team took care of business with a 6-3 win over Minnesota Duluth (3-9, 3-7 NSIC) to close-out the regular season.

As has been the case all year, Sarah Janes and Hallie Welk were sensational for the Marauders in singles play. Janes took care of her opponent 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, and Welk picked up a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles. In just her freshman season Janes has improved to 9-2 when anchoring the top of the Marauders' lineup. Not to be outdone, fellow Bismarck native Welk has now won a remarkable 12 straight single matches.

After splitting the first two sets, Kate O'Connell won 10-2 in a tiebreaker at third singles. Senior Ashley Akers rounded out the scoring in singles play for U-Mary with her second win of the season.

Singles competition

1. Janes, Sarah (U-Mary) def. Brunelli, Alyssa (UMD) 6-2, 6-0

2. Welk, Hallie (U-Mary) def. Saemann, Kara (UMD) 6-0, 6-2

3. O'Connell, Kate (U-Mary) def. Lincoln, Katie (UMD) 7-5, 4-6, 10-2

4. Kolles. Bailey (UMD) def. Scott, Rachael (U-Mary) 1-6, 6-3, 10-2

5. Cunningham, Kelsey (UMD) def. Gerriets, Stefanie (U-Mary) 6-0, 6-4

6. Akers, Ashley (U-Mary) def. Dobbs, Delaney (UMD) 6-3, 6-4

The Marauders' top two doubles teams also continued their success this season each winning by a score of 8-2. Playing first singles, Janes and O'Connell have now improved to 9-2. After suffering their first loss of the season last week, Welk and Rachael Scott rebounded against the Bulldogs and improved their season record to 9-1.

Doubles competition

1. Janes, Sarah/O'Connell, Kate (U-Mary) def. Brunelli, Alyssa/Saemann, Kara (UMD) 8-2

2. Welk, Hallie/Scott, Rachael (U-Mary) def. Kolles. Bailey/Dobbs, Delaney (UMD) 8-2

3. Lincoln, Katie/Cunningham, Kelsey (UMD) def. Akers, Ashley/Tuschling, Ashley (U-Mary) 8-1

“I am proud of the work and performance of the team. They have worked hard for this win and to secure a spot in the conference tournament,” said Head Coach Vida Saliendra. In her first year as head coach, Saliendra has made an immediate impact on the program doubling the old school-record with six NSIC wins this season. Saliendra acknowledged the victory by adding, “We are happy to have broken the old record and to be able to finish the regular season with a win.”

Securing a spot in the tournament, U-Mary (7-6, 6-6 NSIC) currently sits at 7th place in the conference. With the Marauders being one of just two teams to have completed their conference schedule, seeding has not yet been announced. The tournament will be held April 20-21 in Minneapolis.