Augustana University Athletics

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana heads to Minnetonka, Minn. for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament.  The Vikings finished the season 18-2 overall and earned the No. 1 seed with their 12-0 conference record - this was Augustana's fourth straight regular season title.  The Vikings will face cross-town rival University of Sioux Falls in round one. The winner of the NSIC Tournament will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Central Region Tournament beginning on April 27.
 
NSIC tournament title defense, version 2.0
The Vikings are defending their NSIC tournament championship for the second consecutive season.  Augustana won their first tournament title in 2011 and again last season, and have won four straight regular season conference championships, all in undefeated fashion.  The Vikings beat St. Cloud State and Winona State 5-1 in the semifinal and final rounds in last year's championships.  In 2011, Augustana defeated Minnesota State 5-1 before shutting out Winona State 5-0 to take their first NSIC tournament crown. 
 
Augustana's path this year isn't clear-cut yet -their first round opponent is to be determined with one match not finalized.  Depending on the outcome of a match on April 17, the Vikings could face Sioux Falls, Upper Iowa, or U-Mary, who all may be tied for sixth. The eventual path looks to go through Minnesota State or Northern State in the second round and Winona State or St. Cloud State in the championship.  Winona State gave the Vikings the biggest fight, but Augustana still emerged victorious 7-2.  Augustana blanked St. Cloud State 9-0 in their regular season meeting. 
 
Vikings take down Nebraska-Kearney for big in-region win
Augustana had already sealed their fourth straight NSIC regular season title after finishing 12-0 in league play, but they looked to improve their No. 4 Central Region seed for the NCAA tournament.  Augustana did just that by defeating Nebraska-Kearney 6-1 to close out the regular season.  The Vikings took two of the three doubles matches, including a No. 1 doubles win over the ninth-ranked doubles pairing in the Central Region. 
 
In singles, Katie Jesperson, ranked ninth in the intercollegiate Tennis Association's Central Region top 20 defeated the No. 2 ranked singles player, Vanessa Gunawan, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.  Jessa Richards followed suit after checking in at No. 20 in the second edition of the Central Region rankings and beat her UNK opponent Kristin Weems, who was ranked one slot ahead of her, in dominating fashion, 6-2, 6-1. 
 
Michelle Wadas emerged victorious in a thrilling three-set affair at No. 3 singles.  Wadas faced a 4-1 deficit in the first set, but came back to win 7-5.  She dropped the next set but won in a third-set super-tiebreaker 10-5 to take the match. 
 
Hannah Gebauer nearly shut her opponent completely out with a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 4 singles.  Heather Sullivan's No. 5 singles match was canceled after she took the first set 6-3 and the Vikings were assured of a 6-1 win to remain undefeated in Central Region competition.

Region rankings roundup
Augustana has a stronghold of the No. 4 spot on the NCAA Central Region rankings after staying in that spot for the third consecutive week.  The top four remain unchanged for three straight weeks as well, but it doesn't appear the rankings take into account the Vikings' win over Nebraska-Kearney.  UNK appeared in the rankings for the first time at No. 6 this week and that should increase Augustana's in-region strength of schedule while keeping their undefeated record intact. 


Coaches' corner
Marc Kurtz is in his fifth season as the head coach for the Augustana women's tennis program and it has been a fruitful five years.  After finishing in a tie for fourth in his first season, Kurtz has led his team to 43 straight NSIC victories, four straight regular season conference titles, and the last two conference tournament titles.  During his tenure, Kurtz owns a 91-24 overall dual match record including a 51-3 conference mark.
 
Second serve
Augustana could earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Central Tournament with an NSIC Tournament title.  The NSIC and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association tournament winners each receive automatic bids to the NCAA Central Region Tournament while the next highest-ranked Central Region teams receive at-large bids.  That tournament would take place at the top seed in the Central Region beginning on April 27.