March 8, 2008

BEMIDJI, Minn. - The University of South Dakota Coyotes were much for the Beavers Saturday evening as they defeated Bemidji State 7-2 at the Four Seasons Health Club in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Coyotes were able to jump out to a 3-0 lead in doubles play but had their hands full at No. 3 doubles as the South Dakota team of Ashley Waltman and Janea Hagen squeaked by with an 8-6 victory over the Beavers Farrah Steinke (Fr., Crosby, Minn.) and Cheyanne Maki (So., Watford City, N.D.).

Steinke redeemed herself as she pulled out a marathon match against Waltman at No. 5 singles by a score of 2-6, 7-6, 10-8, winning the second set on a 12-10 tiebreaker. The victory for Steinke is her third consecutive and is the best start to a Beaver career since Kali Welu (Jr., Pequot Lakes, Minn.) went 3-0 to start the 2006 season.

Amy Erickson (Jr., Roseau, Minn.) was able to pick up her first victory of the season as she went to a third set super set tiebreaker for the fourth consecutive match but for the first time prevailed beating Hagen 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 at No. 6 singles to pick up the second and final point for Bemidji State on the day.

The No. 4 singles match proved to be an entertaining one as the Beavers Shelia Hoberg (So., Bismarck, N.D.) took the Coyotes Melanie Rockne to a third set but was unable to get the victory as she was defeated 3-6, 6-3, 10-7.

The loss moves Bemidji State’s record to 1-5 (0-1; NSIC) on the season while the Coyotes improve to 10-4.

Bemidji State wraps up the weekend with a pair of matches Sunday in Sioux Falls, Iowa as they will play against Morningside University at 9 a.m. and finish the day with a match against Briar Cliff University at noon.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--