The Peacock tennis team was on the road this past weekend in Sioux Falls, S.D. Upper Iowa battled with the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday night and then faced off against the Vikings of Augustana University on Sunday morning. UIU had to fight hard this weekend without their No. 1 Shakhnaza Zhanatova, who will be out for a few weeks due to injury. The team lost both matches including a 5-2 decision to Sioux Falls and a 6-0 loss to Augustana falling to 2-4 on the year and 1-3 in NSIC matches.
 
Against Sioux Falls… The Cougars cruised to the doubles point winning the matches at No. 1 and No. 2 by 6-0 scores against the teams of Deimante Krivickaite and Alejandra Abella and Varvara Ogorodnikova and Carolina Abella. Due to the injury, UIU forfeited the No. 3 doubles match. In singles, Krivickaite stepped up to the No. 1 spot and won 6-4, 6-3 and Ogorodnikova followed by moving up to No. 2 and winning 6-3, 6-4. Sioux Falls secured the win with victories at No. 3, 4, and 5 singles with wins over the Abella sisters and Mya Herrmann and a win at No. 6 by forfeit.
 
Against Augustana… Augustana, the NSIC's top pick in the preseason poll, claimed the doubles point with a 6-1 win at No. 1 over Krivickaite and Alejandra Abella, a 6-0 win at No.2 over Ogorodnikova and Carolina Abella and a win by forfeit at No. 3. In singles, the Peacocks were only able to claim nine games in the nine sets played against the powerhouse Vikings. Both teams left the No. 6 match open so no point was awarded.
 
Quotables… "In Saturday's doubles, we had to create some new pairings due to the injury to Shaha and it is always challenging to create a chemistry with just one or two days of practices with a new partner. In singles, Deimante and Varvara played really well against Sioux Falls. Deimante had a great match against a strong opponent. In the second set she was down 3-0, but rallied to win 6-3; a perfect example to show this team never quits and keeps on fighting. On Sunday, we played an excellent team in Augustana. I am proud of the effort from everybody, we just need to get healthy for next weekend. We have another tough weekend coming, but we look forward to those matches." - Head Coach Leo Millet
 
Up Next… The Peacocks will continue their run through the Northern Sun Conference with a pair of matches in Winona, Minn. next weekend. Upper Iowa will host the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m. and then take on the Marauders of the University of Mary on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 9:30 a.m.