DES MOINES, Iowa – South Dakota women's tennis earned a gritty 4-2 win over North Dakota in the Summit League Tournament semifinals on Friday inside Roger Knapp Tennis Center on the Drake University campus.
 
The Coyotes (12-9) advance to Saturday's Summit League tournament championship match against Denver at 10 a.m. It's the fourth title match appearance for South Dakota in head coach Brett Barnett's 10 seasons.
 
"What a gutsy performance and win from the team," said Barnett. "We knew this was going to be an absolute battle and it was."
 
South Dakota came out of the gates and captured the doubles point, just like it did for all six Summit League regular season matches this year. Winning doubles matches were the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles duos.
 
Bea Havlickova and Paige Alter posted a 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles while Anna Medvyedyeva and Grace Chadick set the single season doubles wins record at 22 with a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles.
 
"We came out ready to go and won another doubles point," Barnett said. "Paige and Bea played amazing and won quick. 
 
"Grace and Anna came up big after they lost a lead and got the clinch."
 
Medvyedyeva, a sophomore, earned a 6-1, 7-5 win at No. 3 singles to push South Dakota to a 2-0 advantage in the team race. Chadick, a junior, earned a 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 5 singles to give the winners three points.
 
The other four singles matches all went into the third set as North Dakota recorded wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles before Selena Bird clinched the triumph for the Coyotes, rallying from an 0-2 deficit in the third set, to record a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles.
 
"Anna played a very good match and got our second point," added Barnett. "Grace fought like she always does and got us to 3. It was 3 setters everywhere else. 
 
"Selena had a chance to close the match in two sets and was down 2-0 in the third.  I cannot be more proud of how far she dug and played with so much heart to get us the clinch."
 
Chadick (21 singles wins) and Bird (20 singles wins) are the first set of teammates to each hit the 20-win plateau in a single season since 2015-16.
 
South Dakota also advance to the title match in 2017, 2018 and 2022. The Coyotes are now 8-1 since falling at Denver in the regular season on March 8. The 12 dual wins mark the most under Barnett.
 
"We are where we want to be," said Barnett. "We've talked all year about playing for a championship and we have that opportunity. 
 
"We're going to leave it all on the line tomorrow knowing we can get this done!"