OMAHA, Neb. – Missouri State's women's tennis team collected four of the first five points before North Dakota notched the final two, claiming its first win, 4-3, of the 2020 spring season Friday evening at Hanscom Tennis Courts.
 
Alye Darter and Ellie Burger posted a 6-4 doubles result in the No. 1 spot, but the Fighting Hawks countered in the third flight as North Dakota's Sullivan and Soko handed MSU a 6-3 loss. Coming down to the No. 2 match, duo Alyson Piskulic and Anna Alons wrapped up the Bears' point with a 6-4 decision.
 
Moving to singles, No. 2 Anna Alons bumped MSU to a 2-1 lead in a straight-set 6-3, 6-1 victory. Alye Darter bagged another Bears' point in the first flight 6-4, 6-4, but North Dakota's No. 3 Ochotorena put the Fighting Hawks on the board with a 6-4, 6-4 result against Taylor Shaw.
 
Ellie Burger ended North Dakota's rally in the fourth flight, winning a tight first set 7-6 before clinching the second, 6-2, and sealing MSU's win.
 
With the game already in hand for the Bears, North Dakota won a couple third-set tiebreakers at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots to make it a 4-3 final.
 
"I'm really proud of the way we competed tonight," said head coach Mallory Weber. "North Dakota is a gritty team and we had to fight at a high level throughout the match."
 
MSU remains in Omaha, Neb. and faces Creighton on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 9 a.m.
 
For more information on the Missouri State women's tennis team go to www.missouristatebears.com or twitter (@msubearstennis).
 
 
Doubles Results:
 
Alye Darter/Ellie Burger (MSU) def. Kaede Amano/Allie Ochotorena (UND), 6-4
Alyson Piskulic/Anna Alons (MSU) def. Nina Zdrakovic/Andrea Jansson (UND), 6-4
Isa Sullivan/Frida Soko (UND) def. Claire Martin/Mara Presot (MSU), 6-3
 
Singles Results:
 
Alye Darter (MSU) def. Kaede Amano (UND), 6-4, 6-4
Anna Alons (MSU) def. Isa Sullivan (UND), 6-3, 6-1
Allie Ochotorena (UND) def. Taylor Shaw (MSU), 6-4, 6-4
Ellie Burger (MSU) def. Andrea Jansson (UND), 7(3)-6, 6-2
Nina Zdrakovic (UND) def. Claire Martin (MSU), 7-6, 6-7, 10-4
Frida Soko (UND) def. Alyson Piskulic (MSU), 6-4, 4-6, 10-7
[Exh.] Susan Salinas (MSU) def. Yasunaga (UND) 5-7, 7-5, 10-5