The Sioux Falls women's tennis team (0-3) opened the 2012-13 season with a hard-fought 9-0 loss to crosstown rival Augustana College at Sioux Empire Fitness.

“We just played a very strong and deep Augustana team,” head coach Kevin Grebin said.
“We had some good points during the matches, but could not get an advantage in the games.”

Freshman Alison Kauss won the most individual games as she fell 6-2, 6-1 to Katie Jesperson at No. 1 singles.

USF also suffered a 9-0 setback at Winona State.

The Cougars had a chance to steal points in doubles play but were edged in both second and third flight doubles, 8-6. Their best showings came in No. 4-6 singles action. Molly Seigenthaler fought from start to finish in a 6-2, 6-3 loss to WSU's Laura Lindstand. Karlee Sieve played a strong match and took her opponent to a first set tiebreak before dropping the match 7-5, 6-0.  At the no. 6 position, Morgan DeLange suffered a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Laura Roesslein.

The Cougars played well versus the College of St. Benedict, but “ran out of steam in the close matches,” said coach Grebin. USF dropped the match, 9-0.

The College of St. Benedict (1-0) opened the match with victories in each of the three doubles matches but USF rallied for close decisions in the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.

In No. 1 singles, Kauss battled CSB's Jamie Hoffman but fell in a close tie-breaker, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2. Seigenthaler was edged by Victoria Beach in No. 3 singles, 7-5, 6-4.

USF returns to the court next weekend to face MSU-Mankato and Bemidji State.