SDSU Advances To Summit League Semifinals

Friday, April 24

Fort Wayne, Ind.

4:00 PM

South Dakota State University

Oral Roberts

4/24/2015 8:05:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: SDSU Sports Info

FORT WAYNE, IND. — The South Dakota State women's tennis team won its first Summit League Tournament match in program history, topping sixth-seeded Oral Roberts, 4-0, in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon at the Kachmann Tennis Center.

"From start to finish, today was one of the most complete days of tennis we've had all year," head coach Michael Engdahl said. "Our focus was tremendous, and the girls should be excited with the win."

The Jackrabbits opened the match with two commanding doubles victories to secure their first point. Iasmin Rosa and Ffion Davies dispatched Petya Simeonova and Marizanne Bouwer, 8-3, at first doubles while Tacy Haws-Lay and Elif Gabb toppled Brenda Mercado Jove and Nika Munoz, 8-1, at third doubles.

South Dakota State rode that momentum into singles play. Gabb made quick work of Munoz at sixth singles, blanking the Golden Eagle, 6-0, 6-0. After Beatriz Souza defeated Ximena Puentes, 6-3, 6-2, at fifth singles, Tacy Haws-Lay sealed the victory with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Mercado Jove at fourth singles.

The Jackrabbits improved to 14-7 (5-2 SL) and will face second-seeded Fort Wayne in the semifinals tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Kachmann Tennis Center.

"Tomorrow will be another challenge," Engdahl said. "We're looking forward to having another shot at IPFW."

NOTES: South Dakota State was 0-2 in Summit League Tournament play going into its match with Oral Roberts ... Rosa and Davies tied Davies and Jenny Blackburne's Division I single-season doubles wins record; they are now 15-3 at first doubles this season ... Gabb leads the team in singles wins with 15 ... Gabb has blanked her opponent, 6-0, 6-0, six times this season.