VERMILLION, S.D. — The South Dakota tennis team (10-8, 2-3 Summit) picked up their 10^th win of the season behind three straight set singles victories and a pair of wins by retirement over the Creighton Blue Jays (11-7, 1-2 Big East) Tuesday afternoon in the final non-conference clash of the season at the USD Tennis Courts.
 
Amanda de Oliveira clinched the match win in singles play for the Yotes.
 
This was such a good team performance by us today.  We've been on the wrong end of some close matches, and we could've let that get into our head today," commented head coach Brett Barnett. "Creighton is a strong Big Easy program that is very well coached.  We've lost a tight doubles point and dug in. Great energy and focus by all six players to put us up a set on five courts."
 
On a sunny, but breezy day, it was the visiting Bluejays who got the doubles point with a pair of 6-4 victories at No. 1 and No. 3. Grace Chadick and Bea Havlickova had battled to a 5-5 tie before that match was abandoned.
 
Doubles Results:

1. Bianca Rademacher / Valerie Negin (CU) def. Sorcha Caves / Amanda de Oliveira (USD): 6-4
2. Grace Chadick / Bea Havlickova (USD) & Annika Elvestrom / Olivia Minikel (CU): 5-5, unfinished
3. Ana Paula Martinez / Philippa Roy (CU) def. Katarina Curcic / Selena Bird (USD): 6-4

Singles Rundown:
 
After dropping the doubles point to start the day, it would be all South Dakota in singles play as the Yotes picked up five of the six singles points on the day.
 
Selena Bird (No. 4) and Chadick (No. 5) came out of the gates on fire in singles play. Bird dominated the first set 6-1 with Chadick tallying a 6-2 victory. Chadick would dominate the second set as well, winning 6-0.
 
Bird picked up her victory by retirement, leading 1-0 in the second set. For Bird, it now marks three-straight wins and eight of her last nine on the year.
 
Following suit, Sorcha Caves (No. 2) also dominated her first set with a 6-1 decision against Creighton's Valerie Negin. She would clinch the match with a 6-3 second set victory to give USD the 3-1 match lead. Caves has now won five of her last six matches on the season.
 
Grace and Selena played as solid and smart as ever to put two quick points on the board. Sorcha and Amanda did so well not losing focus and playing their game to get us the win," said Barnett on singles play. "I'm proud that we are guaranteed a winning record on the season and we're 2-0 against the Big East." 
 
De Oliveira battled at No. 3 and would be the match-winning victory, following a 6-3, 6-4 win against the Blue Jays' Ana Paula Martinez.
 
Katarina Curcic (No. 6) picked up her third win of the season, recording her third win in the last five matches. She dropped the first set 6-4, before rattling off a 6-0 victory in set two to send it to a decisive third set. Leading 4-2 in that set, her opponent would retire as the win for Curcic made the final score, 5-2 Coyotes.
 
Singles Results:

1. Bianca Rademacher (CU) def. Bea Havlickova (USD): 1-6, 6-0, 6-2
2. Sorcha Caves (USD) def. Valerie Negin (CU): 6-1, 6-3
3. Amanda de Oliveira (USD) def. Ana Paula Martinez (CU): 6-3, 6-4
4. Selena Bird (USD) def. Philippa Roy (CU): 6-1, 1-0, win by retirement
5. Grace Chadick (USD) def. Annika Elvestrom (CU): 6-2, 6-0
6. Katarina Curcic (USD) def. Olivia Minikel (CU): 4-6, 6-0, 4-2, win by retirement

Order of finish: 4,5,2,3,1,6
 
"Huge match on campus Friday against Denver," concluded Barnett. "I know we'll be ready for the occasion, and I hope we have a huge crowd that will bring us extra energy for us."
 
UP NEXT: South Dakota concludes the regular season on Friday, April 11 when they play host to Denver on Senior Day at the USD Tennis Courts. First serve is slated for noon (12 p.m.).