VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota women's tennis team earned a hard-fought 5-2 win over Omaha on Friday in the team's home opener and Summit League opener at the USD Tennis Courts.
 
The Coyotes won two of the three doubles matches to earn the doubles point and then proceeded to claim four of the six singles matches for the victory.
 
"We expected a hard-fought match with Omaha and we sure got it," coach Brett Barnett said. "Welcome to Summit league play where nothing will be easy.
 
"The conditions were tough for both teams and I thought we handled the wind very well."
 
South Dakota's No. 2 doubles tandem of Anna Medvyedyeva and Grace Chadick earned a 6-2 win and then the No. 2 doubles duo of Paige Alter and Bea Havlickova clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win.
 
The Coyotes (4-7, 1-0 in Summit) received singles wins from Selena Bird, Chadick, Sorcha Caves and Amanda de Oliveira.
 
"Doubles was huge to get that point and make our life easier," said Barnett. "Bottom of the lineup played great and got us the win."
 
Chadick, a junior, earned her team-leading 15^th singles win of the season with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles, a spot she is now 4-2 during the dual season.
 
Bird, a sophomore, gave South Dakota a 3-2 team lead with a straight sets win at No. 6 singles, 6-2, 6-4. It's her 12^th win of the season and she is now 3-2 at No. 6 spot this spring.
 
Caves, a freshman, earned the match clinching point with her win at No. 4 singles, 7-5, 6-3 while classmate de Oliveira earned a come from behind win in three sets at No. 2 singles.
 
"Very proud of Selena and Grace for winning quick and Sorcha stepped up and got us the clinch," added Barnett. "Amanda did great coming from behind, fighting and gutting out a needed win for her.
 
"It's great starting 1-0 in league play and getting some confidence going for the team."
 
South Dakota travels to Denver on Friday for its next league match before its spring break trip in Orlando, Florida.