LARAMIE, Wy. – Nanette Nylund advanced to the championship match as South Dakota women's tennis placed a player in the finals for the second consecutive tournament to begin the fall season.
 
Nylund, the team's lone senior, fell in the Flight B championship match to Wyoming's Oleksandra Balaba, 6-3, 7-5. Nylund had posted wins over Central Oklahoma's Mariona Franco (6-3, 3-6, 7-5) and Wyoming's Clara Mansart (6-3, 4-6, 6-0). She earned a walkover in the semifinals as she was set to face South Dakota teammate Emma Tranberg.
 
Tranberg, a junior, posted a pair of wins to reach the semifinals, beating Central Oklahoma's Lotte Lesscher and Wyoming's Zarah Mughal (7-6, 7-5).
 
"This was another good weekend for us," coach Brett Barnett said. "I am extremely happy with how hard we competed and adjusted to very fast conditions at 7200 ft. The team did a great job making adjustments each match and we played better each day. It was great that players that didn't have the best weekend at Drake really stepped up this tournament.
 
"Nanette and Emma has a great tournament both beating strong players from Wyoming and setting up an all USD semi. Nylund had her chances in the final but had a great weekend."
 
Eesha Varma, a freshman, earned her first collegiate victories while participating in Flight B singles. She dropped her opening round match to Colorado State's Anastasiia Kotsyuba (6-3, 6-2), but proceeded to post a 2-1 mark during consolation play.
 
Varma defeated Air Force's Shailla Alda (7-6, 7-6) and Montana State's Daphne Haverkamp (6-2, 6-3) before falling to Wyoming's Mughal (6-0, 6-2).
 
"Eesha did a great job getting her first college wins and played very well in the process," said Barnett.
 
The doubles duo of Nylund and Varma posted a 2-1 mark during competition in Flight B doubles. After falling in the opening round, the pair posted consolation wins over Central Oklahoma's Franco/Lesscher (6-2) and Gribi/Penn (6-4).
 
Jana Lazarevic and Sille Tranberg teamed in the Flight A doubles to post a 1-1 mark, earning a win over Montana State's Frisam/Van Baelen (6-3).
 
Emma Tranberg and Berta Girbau also posted a 1-1 mark while playing Flight B doubles, downing Central Oklahoma's Gribli/Penn (6-3).
 
"Our doubles made some nice adjustments on day 2 and 3 and looked very sharp," said Barnett. "The team knows and has proved we can play with anyone and I love how they have not backed down from any challenges."
 
The Coyotes travel to Omaha to participate in the Creighton Invite this Friday and Saturday.