The Creighton women’s tennis team ended its regular season with a 5-2 loss to South Dakota on Tuesday afternoon in Vermillion, South Dakota.
The defeat brought the Bluejays’ overall record to 11-7 and ended their three-match winning streak. With the win, the Coyotes improved to 10-8.
Creighton started strong by winning the doubles point. Seniors Valerie Negin and Bianca Rademacher teamed up for a 6-4 win at the No. 1 doubles spot, their ninth win together this season. Junior Ana Paula Martinez and freshman Philippa Roy also won 6-4 at No. 3 doubles to secure the point for the Bluejays.
Negin’s doubles victory was her 64th career win, moving her into third place on Creighton’s all-time list, passing former Bluejay Sarah Cadwallader.
“South Dakota is a very good team when they’re at their best,” said Creighton head coach Tom Lilly. “They played well today. We didn’t have enough to fight back in some singles matches. Injuries didn’t help, but they were the better team overall.”
South Dakota responded strongly in singles play. The Coyotes won in straight sets at the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 5 singles positions. They also won at No. 4 after Roy retired early in the second set due to injury.
USD’s Selena Bird took the first set 6-1 and led 1-0 in the second when Roy had to stop. Grace Cadick followed with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles. Sorcha Caves then earned a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 2, and Amanda De Oliveira clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 3.
Creighton’s lone singles win came from Rademacher at the top spot. She fought back after losing the first set to beat Beata Havlickova in three sets, 1-6, 6-0, 6-2.
Freshman Olivia Minikel also went the distance in her match at No. 6 singles. She split the first two sets but had to retire while trailing 4-2 in the third.
The Bluejays will look to bounce back at the 2025 BIG EAST Championships, which begin Thursday, April 17, at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center in Cayce, South Carolina.
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