SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Minnesota State tennis will make its second straight appearance in the NSIC Tournament Championship after defeating No. 2 seed University of Mary 4-2 Saturday afternoon at Huether Match Pointe. The No. 3 seed Mavericks avenged a 4-3 loss to the Marauders in the regular season by prevailing in the semifinals.
 
Minnesota State (11-6, 7-2) will meet 12-time defending champion No. 39 ranked Augustana (17-4, 9-0) Sunday at 10 a.m. in Sioux Falls.
 
"I am so happy for our team," said head coach Tristen Bryant-Otake. "It was a bit of a revenge match for us. We knew how hard we would have to work if we wanted to be back in the finals and we stepped out there knowing it would be a battle as a team. It took every singles spot to get this win and our entire bench to contribute. The energy from Katelyn, Brynn, Hana, Taina, Georgia and Ellie helped make the difference. Big shout out to Elizabeth (Felderman) as well with the clincher. She fought back from 4-1 down in the third set and won five straight games. Tomorrow will be our biggest challenge yet but I think we are peaking at the right time and are ready for it."
 
Felderman and McKenna DeMarce started with a 6-0 win at No. 3 doubles while Freia Lawrence and Avery Stilwell dropped just one game at No.1 to secure the team doubles point.
 
Lawrence upended Chloe Chong 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles for a 2-0 lead and DeMarce followed 6-0, 6-3 at No. 6 over Luba Moyo. Hala Hossam Awad put UMary on the board with a win at No. 2 over MSU's Chiara Carnelutti 6-2, 6-3 and Ilona Freitag slipped past Stilwell at No. 3 singles in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
 
Felderman clinched the fourth point in comeback fashion 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 at No. 5, leaving Daria Podmogilnaia and Maria Estinvil entangled 6-4, 3-6, 4-1 unf. At No. 4. Estinvil was leading 4-1 in the final set for UMary.

"It was so much credit to my team at the end," Felderman said. "If it weren't for their cheering, I wouldn't have had the motivation. I just knew that I could do it because they were cheering for me. Just focusing on doing one thing. That was hitting to her backhand. It worked and it kept working and I won."
 
Augustana downed St. Cloud State in the quarterfinals and Sioux Falls in the semifinals by 4-0 scores. Last season, the Vikings defeated Minnesota State 4-0 in the NSIC Tournament Championship. Augie hosts on their home court again this season. The Mavericks collected a 4-0 quarterfinals win over MSU Moorhead on Friday.
 
Sunday's championship will be streamed live at 10 a.m. The Mavericks are seeking their first conference championship since 1989, at the time members of the North Central Conference (NCC). Augustana won the only regular season matchup on March 24 4-0 in Sioux Falls.

"We have to refuel, eat a lot of food, celebrate but then refocus," said Felderman. "Get back in the mindset that we have a very tough match tomorrow and we have to push just like we did today to beat Augustana."
 
SCORES
Doubles

1. MSU (Freia Lawrence/Avery Stilwell) def. UMARY (Chloe Chong/Ilona Freitag) 6-1
2. UMARY (Hala Hossam Awad/Maria Estinvil) vs. MSU (Chiara Carnelutti/Daria Podmogilnaia) 3-2 unf.
3. MSU (McKenna DeMarce/Elizabeth Felderman) def. UMARY (Emily Needham/Luba Moya) 6-0

Order of finish: 3,1
 
Singles

1. MSU (Freia Lawrence) def. UMARY (Chloe Chong) 6-0, 6-1
2. UMARY (Hala Hossam Awad) def. MSU (Chiara Carnelutti) 6-2, 6-3
3. UMARY (Ilona Freitag) def. MSU (Avery Stilwell) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
4. UMARY (Maria Estinvil) def. MSU (Daria Podmogilnaia) 4-6, 6-3, 4-1 unf.
5. MSU (Elizaabeth Felderman) def. UMARY (Emily Needham) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
6. MSU (McKenna DeMarce) def. UMARY (Luba Moyo) 6-0, 6-3

Order of finish: 1,6,2,3,5