Last Week: The University of Mary tennis team (6-4) improved to 5-1 in Northern Sun play with a commanding win over Southwest Minnesota State University (3-11, 1-5 NSIC) Sunday morning. The Marauders won two of three doubles matches and all six singles matches for an 8-1 win over the Mustangs.
 
This Week: The University of Mary tennis team (6-4, 5-1 NSIC) will be back in action this weekend as they make their home finale Saturday. U-Mary will square off against St. Cloud State (8-10, 5-0 NSIC) at 11 a.m. and University of Sioux Falls (5-6, 2-3 NSIC) at 5 p.m.
 
PROJECTED LINEUPS
 
            Singles
 
No. 1   Hallie Welk (6-4, 4-2 NSIC)
           
No. 2   Sarah Janes (6-4, 3-3 NSIC)           
 
No. 3   Catherine Gibbens (6-4, 4-2 NSIC)
 
No. 4   Meredith Holt (3-4, 2-1 NSIC)
 
No. 5   Anastasia Bruss (6-4, 5-1 NSIC)
 
No. 6  Kate O'Connell (5-5, 3-3 NSIC)
           
            Doubles
 
No. 1   Sarah Janes/Catherine Gibbens (3-6, 3-2 NSIC)   
 
No. 2   Hallie Welk/Kate O'Connell (8-1, 5-0 NSIC)
 
No. 3   Meredith Holt/Anastasia Bruss (4-2, 2-0 NSIC)
 
Playoffs?!?: With a 5-1 record U-Mary sits at fourth place in the NSIC standings and have secured a postseason berth. The Marauders earned a playoff berth last season for the first time since the postseason format changed in 2008. This season's tournament will be played April 26-27 in Minnetonka, Minn.
 
Perfect: The doubles combination of Hallie Welk and Kate O'Connell lost their eight-match winning streak against Wayne State (Mich.), but still hold a perfect 6-0 mark in NSIC action at No. 2 doubles.
 
Record-Setting: Last season was a record-setting year for the U-Mary tennis team. Since joining the NSIC in 2007, the Marauders did not have a single player named all-conference until last year when four players were named to the All-NSIC team. Finishing 7-7, the Marauders finished with their most wins since joining the NCAA in 2007 and picked up the program's only .500 season in the same time frame.
 
Key Returners: The Marauders are led by three returning All-NSIC performers from a year ago. Headlining that group is Hallie Welk (Sr., Bismarck, N.D. / Century HS), who was named first team all-conference for her efforts at second singles last year. Welk is joined by last year's No. 1 singles player, Sarah Janes (Fr., Bismarck, N.D. / Century), who was named to the All-NSIC second team. Janes' doubles partner, Kate O'Connell (Jr., Elk River, Minn. / Elk River), also returns for the Marauders. Janes and O'Connell were named second team All-NSIC at first doubles in 2013.
 
Newcomers: With the loss of two seniors and a 2013 All-NSIC performer, the Marauders have several holes to fill. Looking to fill those voids will be Catherine Gibbens (Fr., Rapid City, S.D. / St. Thomas Moore HS), Anastasia Bruss (Fr., Rochester, Minn./ Century HS), Meredith Holt (Fr., Lacrosse, Wisc. / Logan HS) and Hannah Smith (Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo. / Bishop Machebeuf HS).
 
Up Next: The Marauders will close the conference season next weekend with three road matches. U-Mary will take on Winona State University on Friday, March 4, Bemidji State University on Saturday and University of Minnesota Crookston on Sunday.