Women's Tennis Wins Opener

Friday, March 18

Tulsa, Okla.

10:00 AM

South Dakota State University

Oral Roberts

3/18/2016 8:38:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: SDSU Sports Info

TULSA, Okla.—The South Dakota State women's tennis team won its Summit League opener and extended its win streak to three matches with a 5-2 win over Oral Roberts Friday at the Castle Tennis Center.

With the win, the Jackrabbits improve to 11-5 overall and 1-0 in league play while the Golden Eagles drop to 8-10 overall and 1-1 in the league.

"I am so proud of the way we stepped up today. After losing the doubles point the way we did against a much improved Oral Roberts team, we could have hung our heads and let them roll over us," sixth-year head coach Michael Engdahl said. "Instead, we stepped up and played some of our best tennis we have played all year. Our upperclassmen were unbelievably impressive today and really showed what they are made of. Every Summit League match will be a battle this year, so we can't get too high, but we definitely started on the right foot."

Senior Tacy Haws-Lay secured the match-winning point with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles. She improves to 5-6 overall.

SDSU fell behind 1-0 when ORU won the doubles point with victories at No. 1 and No. 2. At No. 3, Haws-Lay and freshman Morgan Brower won their seventh consecutive match, 6-3.

Senior Florencia Magni won her second consecutive match and tied the score at 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 3. The Jackrabbits took a 3-1 lead after junior Iasmin Rosa and senior Beatriz Souza won at No. 1 and No. 5 singles. The 6-1, 6-4 win by Rosa was her seventh straight.

Oral Roberts pulled within one, 3-2, when senior Ffion Davies lost 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2, snapping her seven-match win streak.

After Haws-Lay won her match, Brower scored the final SDSU point with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 6.

The Jackrabbits return to action Sunday when they play at Missouri State at 11 a.m. at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo.