This Weekend in Peacock Tennis… Upper Iowa will open play in the Northern Sun Conference this Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 10-11 at Choice Health & Fitness in Grand Forks, N.D. The Peacocks will line up against the Beavers of Bemidji State University on Saturday at 5 p.m. and then will return to the courts at 7:30 a.m. to go up against the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston on Sunday morning.
 
Peacocks Open Spring in Springfield… The Peacocks lost 9-0 to the Prairie Stars of the University of Illinois-Springfield to kick off the 2018 spring season. Upper Iowa dropped the first two doubles matches, 8-0 and 8-1, and had to forfeit the third to fall behind 3-0. The Prairie Stars scored 6-0, 6-0 wins at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4 singles to get ahead 6-0. Anna Okolot dropped a 6-2, 6-3 decision to Maegan Flight at No. 2 singles, while Breanna Heichert lost 6-1, 6-2 to Kaitlyn Thornhill at No. 5 singles. UIU forfeited the final singles match to end the dual at 9-0 in favor of UIS.
 
Beavers Shutout Golden Eagles… Bemidji State shutout Minnesota Crookston to open the spring season last weekend. At No. 1 doubles, Whitney Erickson and Reanne Erickson fell 8-0 to Hannah Alme and Brooke Mimmack. At the No. 2 slot, Hanna Ruckheim and Adrianna Tiede were upended 8-0 by Breann Walsh and Rachel Will. At the No. 3 doubles spot, Tori Koch and Karli Renney fell 8-0 to Hope Johnson and Jacki Damberg. In singles, Bemidji State claimed 72 of the 77 games played in the six matches.

Next Up… Upper Iowa will travel to Mankato, Minn. to face another pair of Northern Sun Conference foes next weekend, Feb. 17-18. The Peacocks will take on the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University on Sunday at 3 p.m.