This Week in Peacock Tennis… Upper Iowa will get on the courts for the first time since last March this weekend in Fargo, N.D. The Peacocks will open their Northern Sun Conference slate with duals against the University of Mary on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Minnesota State University Moorhead on Sunday at 9 a.m.
 
Following the Peacocks… Fans can follow the Peacocks on the court on Sunday morning thanks to live video provided by MSU Moorhead on the NSIC Network. Fans can use the NSIC Network app on their favorite streaming devices or go online to https://nsicnetwork.com/msumdragons to choose a court to watch.
 
NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll… The 2021 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll was released in early February and Upper Iowa was selected 8th overall. Augustana University was the pick in the NSIC Preseason Women's Tennis Coaches' Poll. The Vikings are the 10-time defending NSIC Champions and have won 118 consecutive NSIC regular season matches. The Vikings amassed 121 points and all 11 first place votes after going 13-0 and 8-0 in the NSIC in the shortened 2020 season and 19-3, including an 11-0 mark in the NSIC while making an appearance in the NCAA Central Region Tournament in 2019. MSU Moorhead was second with 102 points and the other first place vote.
 
Checking the Rearview Mirror… The Peacocks were 3-7 overall and 2-6 in Northern Sun Conference action when their season ended in mid-March last season. Upper Iowa missed out on their final four matches of the season including two final conference matches. UIU's wins came against the University of Dubuque in the fall and then a pair of NSIC wins in the spring against St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota Crookston. Returner Varvara Ogorodnikova was 6-2 with time split between No. 2 and 3 in singles in 2020. Ogorodnikova, who was tabbed as a NSIC Player to Watch, is part of a young Peacock team that includes five freshman, one sophomore, and two juniors after the NCAA's season of competition waiver granted additional eligibility for a number of returning players.

Scouting the Competition… The Marauders of UMary opened the season last weekend with a pair of wins over Minnesota Crookston (7-0) and Bemidji State University (4-3). UMary has won the doubles point in both duals this season using it to push the team to a victory in their slim-decision over the Beavers. The Dragons of MSU Moorhead also posted a 2-0 record over BSU (5-2) and UMC (7-0). The Dragons lost the doubles point to the Beavers, but came up with five wins in the six singles matches to post the victory.
 
Up Next… The Peacocks head to Winona, Minn. next Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28 and will face off against the Beavers of Bemidji State on Saturday at 3 p.m. and the Golden Eagles of Minnesota Crookston on Sunday at 9 a.m.