THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK TENNIS... The Upper Iowa University women's tennis team is scheduled to play a pair of NSIC Duals in Winona, Minn. on Mar. 27 and 28. The Peacocks matchup against the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 27 before meeting the Mavericks of Minnesota State University - Mankato at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Mar. 28. UIU (1-7, 1-5 NSIC) is coming off a hard-fought 5-4 defeat in their last matchup against Wartburg College, and is looking to get back in the win column against their upcoming NSIC foes.

FANS IN THE STANDS... For the first time this season, fans will be able to cheer on the UIU women's tennis team in person. Two fans per student athlete will be able to attend this weekend's NSIC action against SMSU and Mankato.
 
WHAT WENT DOWN VS. WINONA & WARTBURG... The Peacocks were unable to secure a victory in either of their matches last week despite some singles victories and tough play. UIU fell by a score of 7-0 against Winona State University despite competitive matches in No. 1 and 2 singles from Varvara Ogorodnikova and Jessa Michieli. In No. 1 singles, Ogorodnikova battled hard but fell 7-5, 6-2 in a close contest. In No. 2 singles, Michieli won her fist set by a score of 7-6 to win UIU's only set of the dual, but she would fall 6-3 in set two before being edged out in the third set tiebreaker by a score of 1-0 (10-7). Against NCAA Division III opponent Wartburg College, the Peacocks were narrowly defeated by a score of 5-4 in the dual. Ogorodnikova and Lina Ziani claimed an 8-4 win in No. 2 doubles play, but an 8-7 (11-9) tiebreak loss in No. 1 doubles would prove to be the one-point difference in the dual. The Knights clinched the dual with wins in No. 4, 5, 6 singles play to take a 5-1 lead, but UIU came out on top in No. 1, 2, and 3 singles competition to make the final score 5-4. Michieli notched a 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (12-10) win in her first No. 1 singles match of the season, Ogorodnikova secured a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) straight-set victory in her first No. 2 singles matchup of the year, and Ziani won her No. 3 singles match 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-5).

MATCHING UP AGAINST MUSTANGS & MAVERICKS… The Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University own a 5-4 (5-0 NSIC) record on the season, but are just 1-4 in their last five contests following a 4-0 start to the year. SMSU is led by Maegan Flight as she has compiled a 5-3 record in No. 1 singles competition. On the doubles side, the Mustang duo of Maja Louisa Harck and Courtenay Sior has combined for a 5-3 record on the season while going 1-3 in No. 1 doubles play and 4-0 in No. 2 doubles action. The Mavericks of Minnesota State University - Mankato hold a season record of 2-10 (1-6 NSIC) and are 1-2 in their last three duals. Mankato's best winning percentage in singles competition comes from the No. 4 singles spot as they have gone 4-8 (.333) on the year with Lauren Goth recording a 2-3 record. The Mavericks have put up a 2-10 (.167) record in each of the three doubles spots to go 6-30 (.167) on the season, with their best mark coming from the duo of Dee Dokken and Kjerstin Hall in No. 2 doubles. MSU-Mankato will play Winona State (6-3, 5-2 NSIC) prior to their dual with Upper Iowa.
 
LOOKING AHEAD… The Peacocks are scheduled to head to St. Cloud, Minn. for a pair of NSIC Duals on Apr. 9 and 10. UIU is set to play St. Cloud State University at 5 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 9 before facing the University of Minnesota Duluth at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 10.