SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Fifth-seeded MSU Moorhead tennis supplanted fourth-seeded UMary on Friday. The Dragons advanced to the NSIC Tournament Semifinals with a 4-0 win over the Marauders. 
 
It is the first NSIC Tournament victory for head coach Alexis Konecne. The win is also MSUM's first in the NSIC Tournament since the 2020-21 season. 
 
The team of Sophia Felderman and Tiannah Gu would get MSUM off to a nice start in the always critical doubles portion. Felderman and Gu claimed a 6-1 win over Maria Estinvil and Anna Sueflohn, moving their win total to eight this season. In a spirited number one match, the pairing of Luzmary Diaz Castillo and Shaelyn Johnson would clinch history. The duo earned a 6-4 victory over Chloe Chong Zhi Jing and Ilona Freitag, their 16th victory of the season. For the pair, it breaks the single-season record for doubles wins. It also clinched the valuable team point for MSUM, who now led, 1-0. 

It was Felderman who continued her strong afternoon as singles play commenced. The true freshman captured the first set over Sueflohn (6-0) before adding another point to MSUM's total with a 6-3 win in set two. Gu would claim her own piece of history at the number five spot for the Dragons. The junior defeated Valeria Bradley in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. For Gu, it is her 16th singles win of the season, which ties her for the single-season school record, which happens to be held by head coach Alexis Konecne. With Gu's victory, MSUM sat one point short of a team victory. 

Not to be outdone, Diaz Castillo would secure the dual for MSUM at the number two position, topping Freitag, 6-0, 6-3. Diaz Castillo's conquest is her 15th singles win of the season. While the remaining matches were deemed 'unfinished', Claire Nemmers did hold a first-set victory in the number six position against Luba Moyo (6-4). 
 
Dragons 4, Marauders 0
 
Doubles
No. 1 – Luzmary Diaz Castillo/Shaelyn Johnson def. Chloe Chong Zhi Jing/Ilona Freitag – 6-4
No. 2 – Sophia Felderman/Tiannah Gu def. Maria Estinvil/Anna Sueflohn – 6-1
No. 3 – Katryna Hansen/Claire Nemmers-Luba Moyo/Valeria Bradley – Unfinished (3-5)
 
Singles
No. 1 – Shaelyn Johnson- Chloe Chong Zhi Jing – Unfinished (0-6, 4-4)
No. 2 – Luzmary Diaz Castillo def. Ilona Freitag – 6-0, 6-3
No. 3 – Katryna Hansen-Maria Estinvil – Unfinished (6-7 (9-11), 1-2)
No. 4 – Sophia Felderman def. Anna Sueflohn – 6-0, 6-3
No. 5 – Tiannah Gu def. Valeria Bradley – 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 – Claire Nemmers-Luba Moyo – Unfinished (6-4, 2-3)
 
Up Next
 
MSUM is set to take on top-seeded Augustana in the NSIC Tournament Semifinals tomorrow afternoon beginning at 1:30 p.m.