SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The story the University of North Dakota women's tennis team has been writing this season has been centralized around perseverance and determination, and both of those were front-and-center on Saturday night as the Fighting Hawks rallied to defeat South Dakota, 4-3, in Sioux Falls. 

UND broke a 3-3 tie with a thrilling, three set victory to collect its third straight win and move to 4-1 in Summit League action. The victory was also the final of the regular season for the Fighting Hawks, as the green and white will now prepare for the league's postseason championship at the end of April in Tulsa. 

South Dakota took the early 1-0 lead in doubles play thanks to victories on the No. 1 and No. 3 courts; however, the team of Allie Ochotorena and Preethi Kasilingam were holding a 5-3 lead at the second position when play was halted. 

The Coyotes pushed their advantage to 2-0 before the Fighting Hawks began to rally with three straight singles victories to jump in front, 3-2. Kasilingam started the comeback with a 6-3, 6-1 trouncing on the No. 4 court before Zarha Finnigan tied the contest at two with a 7-5, 6-4 triumph. With just three matches left to be claimed, UND grabbed the momentum as Masha Lobanova held off her opponent, 6-4, 7-6, on the bottom court to put the visitors just one match away from clinching victory. 

USD brought the match to even as Ochotorena fell in a tightly-contested three setter, turning all eyes towards the No. 2 court to decide the winner of the match. Kaede Amano dropped the first set, 6-3, before answering with a 6-4 win of her own to fittingly send the contest to a winner-take-all affair. There, Amano held on by a 6-4 score to give the Fighting Hawks the win. 

North Dakota will learn its seed, opponent, and time for the Summit League Tennis Championships in the future.