GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota women's tennis closed the conference regular season and home competition slate with an electric showing on Saturday afternoon as the Fighting Hawks held off St. Thomas for the 4-3 win inside Choice Health & Fitness.
 
The victory moves UND to 13-9 overall with a 4-2 conference showing as the Tommies' season ends at 7-10 and 2-3. It also put a firm stamp on the Fighting Hawks' post-season bid to the Summit League Women's Tennis Championship next weekend.
 
"What a great way to send off an amazing senior class," said head coach Tom Boysen. "We are so excited to practice for a couple more days at home before heading to Tulsa for the conference tournament."
 
Following the day's competition, North Dakota's five seniors in Ethel Li, Alva Norberg, Andrea Pineda, Jule Schulte and Linn Svaerd were all recognized for their dedication, time and effort all given to the women's tennis program during their time as Fighting Hawks.
 
Competition started slowly for UND as the visitors clinched the early 1-0 lead off of doubles play. The Tommies collected a 6-1 win from the No. 3 court before the home team pair of Norberg and Pineda fought for a 6-3 win at the No. 2 court. But the doubles point would go in favor of St. Thomas after a 6-2 win at the top position.
 
"This match really speaks to the narrative of having a very senior-heavy team and the difference that can hopefully make in a match that was this close," said Boysen. "Playing against a talented and hungry team like St. Thomas when they were battling for their post-season lives and then losing the doubles point provided a great opportunity for our team to show its maturity."
 
All momentum seemed to flip in singles play as the Fighting Hawks collected four wins from the bottom four courts to seal the conference victory. Alyssa Giupponi raced through her match at the No. 5 court for a dominating 6-2, 6-1 win before Norberg soon joined her in victory with a pair of 6-2, 6-3 wins at the No. 4 position.
 
The visitors tied up the score at 2-2 after taking a 6-2, 6-5 win from the top spot but the home team again struck back in the form of a three-set win from Pineda, who fended off an opponent rally for the electric 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win from court No. 3. But the Tommies again tied up the score after another three-set match went in their favor when Schulte dropped a heartbreaker at 6-2, 4-6, 2-6 from the second spot.
 
All eyes then turned to the No. 6 court where freshman Emma Roberts was also locked into a three-set battle. She turned up the momentum late in the first to secure a tight 7-5 win before faltering in the second set at 4-6. That loss, though, would not deter the New Zealand-native as she built off an early lead to clinch the 6-3 third set win and the team victory.
 
"Bouncing back from losing the doubles point to take five of the six first sets in singles was truly just a testament to this team's experience and resilience. I'm so proud of their response today," said Boysen. "Alyssa and Alva did a great job closing out their matches fairly quickly and I thought Andrea played a gritty, tough, determined third set. Huge congrats to Emma, who has only been on campus for less than four months, to clinch the team victory in such a close, tense match."
 
The 4-3 win for the Fighting Hawks firmly secures their spot in the post-season Summit League Women's Tennis Championships where No. 3 UND will take on No. 2 Omaha in the semifinals on Friday, April 24.  
 
For more information on North Dakota women's tennis, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDwtennis.