SIOUX FALLS, SD - The University of Mary tennis team (4-0, 4-0 Northern Sun) looks to remain undefeated as they compete in two matches at Sioux Falls, SD. UMary first competes against the University of Sioux Falls (3-2, 2-2 NSIC) on Saturday, February 26, at 7 pm. The Marauders then challenge #16 Augustana University (7-0, 4-0 NSIC) on Sunday, February 27, at 9 am.

Last Time Out
UMary defeated St. Cloud State University (2-3) and the University of Minnesota Duluth (2-5) last weekend.

Chloe Chong, Ilona Freitag, Doaa Farouk Mohamed and Emily Needham went 2-0 in singles competition against SCSU and UMD.

About the Opposition
The University of Sioux Falls is 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Northern Sun. Megan Quandt is 3-1 in number one singles. Daniell Thorfinnson is 3-1 in number three singles. Emily Thinnsen has amassed a 3-1 record in number five singles. Katelyn Nesheim is undefeated at number six singles with a 4-0 record.

Augustana University has a 7-0 record while 4-0 in the NSIC. AU has five athletes who are undefeated in singles competition. Flore Hadjigeorgiou is 7-0 in number two singles. Laura Arce Vieyra is 7-0 in number three singles. Valeriya Monko is 6-1 in number one singles.

NSIC Preseason Poll
UMary is projected to finish third in the Northern Sun according to the NSIC preseason coaches' poll. UMary finished fourth last year in the NSIC after going 8-3 in conference play.

Player to Watch
Chloe Chong was named the 2022 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tennis Player to Watch for the Marauders. Chong was a team captain while playing in Malaysia and helped lead her team to a bronze medal in the ASEAN school games.

New Faces
Head coach Vida Saliendra brings in a young and dynamic team as five of the nine roster spots are taken by freshmen. Chloe Chong, Doaa Farouk Mohamed, Ilona Freitag, Callie McDonald and Emily Needham will all play a big role in the upcoming 2022 season.

Mohamed won several national titles while competing in Cairo, Egypt. Freitag won several individual and team competitions during her time in Switzerland. McDonald captained her high school team for her senior year and received All-Conference Honorable Mention honors for her efforts.

Needham was honored in 2018 as the USTA Wyoming Junior Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In 2021 she was the recipient of the Jim Steadman High School Athletic Award for leadership on and off the court.  The 4-time All-State recipient won back-to-back Wyoming High School #1 singles State championships in 2019 & 2020.

Returners
A notable returner for the Marauders is Heidi Jacobson, who competed as a six last season for the Marauders. She went 5-5 overall and 7-3 in doubles competition. Samantha Purpura and Ellie Schmit return to UMary as Sophomores.

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