MANDAN, N.D. – MSU Moorhead was bested for the second time in as many days as the Sioux Falls Cougars edged the Dragons 5-2 in NSIC play this afternoon from the Mandan Tennis Center. 
 
Sioux Falls moved to 7-4 on the season while MSUM fell to 5-7 and 1-4 in NSIC play so far in 2023.

The Cougars would grab the doubles point in the match thanks to victories at number-one and number-three doubles. The teams of Madison Bell/Tiannah Gu and Marissa Burian/Claire Nemmers would battle in their respective contests, but would fall 6-4 and 6-3 respectively. The team of Shaelyn Johnson and Tia Dykema picked up their fifth win of the season after besting Sydney Osburn and Ella Hancock, 6-1. 

MSUM would pick up crucial wins at number-one and number-two singles before falling in the ensuing four matches. Johnson was strong in the number-one spot for MSUM, defeating Talia Janos 6-1, 6-3 to collect her sixth singles win of the year. Tiannah Gu would follow suit, grabbing her eighth singles win this season by defeating Danielle Thorfinnson 6-2, 6-3. Gu is now 8-4 in singles play with all but one of those matches coming from the number-two spot. 

While the Dragons would battle in the remaining singles matches, highlighted by a great effort from Madison Bell, it would not be enough. Bell lost to Emma Rangel 6-4, 7-5 with Tia Dykema dropping a hard-fought contest against Osburn, 6-3, 6-2. Bell moved to 6-6 in singles play in the loss. 
 
Dragons 2, Cougars 5
 
Doubles
No. 1 – Danielle Thorfinnson/Talia Janos def. Madison Bell/Tiannah Gu, 6-4
No. 2 – Shaelyn Johnson/Tia Dykema def. Sydney Osburn/Ella Hancock, 6-1
No. 3 – Jaelyn Haler/Alissa Thorfinnson def. Marissa Burian/Claire Nemmers, 6-3
 
Singles
No. 1 – Shaelyn Johnson def. Talia Janos, 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 – Tiannah Gu def. Danielle Thorfinnson, 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 – Sydney Osburn def. Tia Dykema, 6-3, 6-2
No. 4 – Ella Hancock def. Marissa Burian, 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 – Katelyn Nesheim def. Claire Nemmers, 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 – Emma Rangel def. Madison Bell, 6-4, 7-5

Up Next

MSUM will travel once again this coming weekend for a pair of matches with Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State. Taking place in Saint Peter, Minn., the weekend will kick off on Saturday, March 25 as the Dragons battle the Mavericks beginning at 8 p.m.