SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- South Dakota women's tennis earned a hard-fought 5-2 win over Missouri State on Thursday inside Huether Family Match Pointe. 

The Coyotes (1-1) won the doubles point, cruising to victories of 6-0 at No. 1 doubles and 6-1 at No. 3 doubles.

South Dakota, though, had to work hard in singles play and a gutsy effort at No. 3 singles from Sorcha Caves along with wins from its two seniors secured the match victory. Selena Bird also secured a come-from-behind win in three sets. 

"Hard fought college tennis match today," head coach Brett Barnett said. "We had to dig really deep to get a win. Perfect start for us playing great doubles on every court. 

"Great energy by every team and tactically we played a sharp, aggressive match. Missouri state took it to us in singles for a while."

The sophomore tandem of Amanda de Oliveira and Caves made quick work at No. 1 doubles while the duo of Selena Bird and Natalia de Lima clinched the doubles point with a win at No. 3.

Chadick crusied to a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles to put the Yotes up 2-0 before things got interesting.

Missouri State tied the match at 2-2 with wins at No. 6 and No. 2 singles before South Dakota mounted rallies and held off a stern challenge from the Bears in the final three singles matches. 

Halickova moved to 2-0 at No. 1 singles winning the first set in a tie-break before closing out the match with a 6-2 win in the second set. 

Caves rallied from a set down and a game down in the third set to clinch the victory for the Coyotes with the three-set win at No. 3 singles, also moving to 2-0 on the season.

Bird, dropping the first set in a tie-break, won the second set in a tie-break and then won the super tie-break 10-8 in the third set to claim the victory. 

"We got down on nearly every court and really had to dig deep," said Barnett. "Grace did a great job getting off the court quick and getting us to two points. Bea played a very physical match and played smart and gutted out a win. 

"Sorcha and Selena did so well battling back from a set down to win. Sorcha getting the clinch from being down in the third set was huge."

South Dakoa returns to Heuther Family Match Pointe on Friday for a 10 a.m. match against Sioux Falls. 

"We learned a lot that we can win when we aren't playing our best," added Barnett. "We get another chance to get better tomorrow when we play USF."