Tennis Takes Fourth in NSIC Championship
Dan Gilland
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Sports
After winning its final six matches of the regular season, the Southwest Minnesota State tennis team was in prime position to make a run in the NSIC championship Saturday and Sunday.
The Mustangs didn't disappoint.
Seventh-seeded SMSU entered its first-round match against No. 2 Upper Iowa on Saturday with a 7-12 overall record and a 5-6 mark in the NSIC. Upper Iowa, meanwhile, was 14-7 and topped the Mustangs 5-4 in the teams' previous meeting. The Peacocks clearly held the edge in regular-season accomplishments but SMSU head coach George Seldat was optimistic about his team.
"I feel like we can go head-to-head with most teams," Seldat said prior to the championship. "That's my expectation. It just really depends on if we're feeling good, if we're feeling strong and if we're highly motivated."
As it turns out, the Mustangs had just enough motivation to upset the Peacocks in the first-round contest, winning 5-4 at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis.
But after running the winning streak to seven matches, the Mustangs' ride came to an end later on Saturday in the semifinal round against Minnesota State, Mankato.
With a victory over the Mavericks, the Mustangs could advance to the championship match for the second time in the last two seasons. But third-seeded Minnesota State proved its rank and handed SMSU a 5-2 loss.
The Mustangs had a chance Sunday to take third place in the championship against No. 5 Winona State, but let that opportunity fall through as well. SMSU topped the Warriors 5-4 in their previous meeting, but Winona State reversed the roles in the third-place match, winning 5-4.
St. Cloud State, which entered the tournament as the top seed, took home the NSIC title.
The fourth-place finish in the championship gave the Mustangs a final overall record of 8-14.
The Mustangs didn't disappoint.
Seventh-seeded SMSU entered its first-round match against No. 2 Upper Iowa on Saturday with a 7-12 overall record and a 5-6 mark in the NSIC. Upper Iowa, meanwhile, was 14-7 and topped the Mustangs 5-4 in the teams' previous meeting. The Peacocks clearly held the edge in regular-season accomplishments but SMSU head coach George Seldat was optimistic about his team.
"I feel like we can go head-to-head with most teams," Seldat said prior to the championship. "That's my expectation. It just really depends on if we're feeling good, if we're feeling strong and if we're highly motivated."
As it turns out, the Mustangs had just enough motivation to upset the Peacocks in the first-round contest, winning 5-4 at the Baseline Tennis Center in Minneapolis.
But after running the winning streak to seven matches, the Mustangs' ride came to an end later on Saturday in the semifinal round against Minnesota State, Mankato.
With a victory over the Mavericks, the Mustangs could advance to the championship match for the second time in the last two seasons. But third-seeded Minnesota State proved its rank and handed SMSU a 5-2 loss.
The Mustangs had a chance Sunday to take third place in the championship against No. 5 Winona State, but let that opportunity fall through as well. SMSU topped the Warriors 5-4 in their previous meeting, but Winona State reversed the roles in the third-place match, winning 5-4.
St. Cloud State, which entered the tournament as the top seed, took home the NSIC title.
The fourth-place finish in the championship gave the Mustangs a final overall record of 8-14.
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