BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Tennis team has been selected to finish eighth by league coaches in the 2026 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll announced by the league Thursday.
 
The Beavers garnered 38 points in the poll to finish eighth, their highest ranking in the poll since 2023 where they were voted to finish seventh.
 
"What excites me most about this team is the combination of talent, work ethic, and cultural buy-in," said head coach Kyle Fodness. "We have a group that is hungry to improve, competitive in practice, and genuinely supportive of one another. There's a strong balance between experienced players who set the tone and younger players who bring energy and upside."
 
Sophomore Mia Leshem was tabbed as the Beavers' 2026 NSIC Preseason Player to Watch after a standout freshman season where she went 7-5 (4-5 NSIC) in singles and 10-5 (5-4 NSIC) in doubles and earned All-NSIC Second Team Doubles honors partnered with Sophie Groen.
 
"Mia has consistently shown a strong sense of competitiveness and continued development," said Fodness. "She brings a great work ethic to practice and competes with confidence in matches, which allows her to handle pressure well. As she continues to refine her game and gain experience, will continue to make a positive impact on the team."
 
Augustana University was again selected in the NSIC Preseason Women's Tennis Coaches' Poll to win the NSIC. The Vikings are the 15-time defending NSIC Champions, have won 169 consecutive NSIC regular season matches and have been picked to win the league every year since the preseason poll's inception in 2018.
 
Minnesota State University, Moorhead's Luzmary Diaz Castillo was voted as the 2026 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year.
 
The Beavers are looking to build off a 2025 season where they went 6-9 overall, 3-6 in conference play and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the NSIC Tournament, finishing seventh in the conference.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State women's tennis program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X or Instagram or like them on Facebook.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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