Box Score URBANDALE, Iowa – South Dakota, despite an individual victory from Habiba Aly at No. 2 singles, fell in its season opener in women's tennis, 6-1, to Iowa State at the Life Time Athletic Club on Friday evening.
 
Aly, a senior, rallied form a set down to earn a three-set victory over Christin Hsieh, 2-6, 7-5 (10-8).
 
The Coyotes had chances in the beginning of the match to win the doubles point, but couldn't sustain match leads in two of the three doubles matches.
 
Berta Girbau, a sophomore, lost the second set of her match in a tiebreak.
 
"It was great to be able to compete again," South Dakota head coach Brett Barnett said. "I didn't know what to expect not playing for 10 months. I'm so proud of how we competed. Our doubles were sharp and we were in a position to win the point. 
 
"Slow starts in singles didn't help but we fought so hard on each court. Biba did awesome coming back to win in three and Berta had chances out there. We've got some work to do for sure but if we can build on this start every day we're going to do some good things this year."
 
South Dakota returns to the court in two weeks playing Missouri State on Feb. 5 in Sioux Falls and traveling to Des Moines on Feb. 6 to battle Drake.