MOSCOW, IDAHO – The South Dakota Coyotes women's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to Idaho Vandals Sunday in Moscow, with Selena Bird accounting for the Coyotes lone point. 

Idaho secured the early momentum by sweeping all three doubles matches to claim the doubles point. At No. 1, Bird and Cassy Marra battled but fell 7-5 to Jessica Matthews and Naomi Schraeder. Anna Medvyedyeva and Keta Shavishvili pushed their No. 2 match to the brink before dropping a 7-6 decision, while Kayleigh Didderiens and Ava Doddridge were defeated 6-3 at No. 3. 

In singles play, Bird delivered South Dakota's highlight of the day with a resilient three-set victory at the top spot. After taking the opening set 6-2, dropping the second 4-6, Bird regrouped to close out a 6-3 win in the third. Selena moves to 6-1 in singles so far this season being a consistent threat at the No.1 singles spot. 

Idaho answered with straight set wins at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 6 singles to build its lead. Medvyedyeva fell 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2, and Didderiens was defeated 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3. At No. 6, Natalia Alves de Lima dropped a 6-3, 6-4 decision. 

The closest remaining contests came at No. 4 and No. 5. Marra forced a third set at No. 4 before falling 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Shavishvili also pushed her match to three sets at No. 5, winning the first before ultimately coming up short in a 10-point match tiebreak. 

The Yotes are back home this week to take on Wyoming on Friday (Febuary 20th) and Sunday (February 22nd) against Northern Iowa at the Huether Family Match Pointe in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 

Follow @SDCoyotesWTEN on X (Formerly Twitter) and Instagram for more content 

_________________________________________________________________________________  

Stay up to date with all things Coyotes by following South Dakota Athletics on Facebook /SDCoyotes, X (Twitter) @SDCoyotes, and Instagram @sdcoyotes! #GoYotes x #WeAreSouthDakota