BISMARCK, ND – For the first time this season, the University of Mary tennis team (7-4, 6-1 Northern Sun) hosts their first and only home matches of the season. UMary welcomes Minnesota State University – Mankato to the Capital Racquet and Fitness Center on Saturday, April 2, at 1 pm. The Marauders then challenge Southwest Minnesota State University on Sunday, April 3, at 1 pm.
UMary currently sits in third place in the NSIC standings, holding a 6-1 conference record.
Last Time Out
The Marauders defeated Minnesota State University Moorhead 5-2 on the road.
Chloe Chong,
Ilona Freitag,
Doaa Farouk Mohamed and
Emily Needham all won their singles matches against MSU-Moorhead.
About the Opposition
Minnesota State University – Mankato is 11-9 overall and 4-3 in the Northern Sun. MSU is currently fifth in the NSIC. Junior Tristen Bryant-Otake has a 12-4 record in number one singles. Freshmen Elizabeth Felderman is 5-0 in number two singles and 6-6 in number three singles. Freshmen Hana Minisy has a 7-4 record in number four singles.
Southwest Minnesota State University has amassed a 12-10 record overall while going 4-3 in the NSIC. SMSU is ranked 4
th in the Northern Sun. The Mustangs number one is Junior Courtenay Leonard, who is 6-5 in number one singles. Sophomore Maja Louisa Harck is 6-3 in number three singles.
UMary Stats
Chloe Chong is 6-5 overall in number one singles and has gone 5-2 in conference action.
Ilona Freitag has compiled a 6-5 record in number two singles while going 5-2 in the NSIC.
Doaa Farouk Mohamed has earned a 10-1 record in number three singles. Mohamed is undefeated in conference play with a 7-0 record.
Emily Needham has amassed a 7-4 record in number four singles. Needham has a 5-2 record in the NSIC.
Heidi Jacobson is 2-8 in number five singles and 2-4 in the Northern Sun.
Callie McDonald has a record of 3-7 in number six singles. McDonald has a record of 2-4 in conference play, competing once in number five 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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