PEORIA, Ill. – The Northern Kentucky University women's tennis team fell to South Dakota, 5-2, despite a pair of doubles wins and a singles victory from Klara Skopac at the Clubs at River City North Tennis Center on Friday evening.

NKU claimed the early 1-0 advantage after victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Skopac and Danielle Donahue each waged their first of two close battles, as the pair took a 7-6 win against the Coyotes' Emma Kranendonk and Elise van Zijst after sealing the tie-breaker.

At the No. 2 spot, Nicole Soutar and Sydney Power cruised to a 6-1 win over Milica Pavlovic and Yulia Sidenko.

Skopac fought through her second battle of the night when she took on Ellie Burns at No. 1 singles and hung on for the victory. The junior suffered a 6-3 loss in the opening set before taking set two, 6-3, and the tie-breaker 1-0 (7). She improved to 3-1 in singles action this season.

Donahue won set one at No. 3 singles, but eventually fell to South Dakota's Kranendonk after a 7-5 defeat in the second and 1-0 (3) loss in the tie-breaker.

Despite the loss, each NKU singles player took at least six games off of her opponent.

The Norse (2-3) return to action on Saturday to take on Bradley at 2 p.m. at the Clubs at River City North.

South Dakota 5, Northern Kentucky 2
Singles Results
1. Klara Skopac (NKU) def. Ellie Burns (SD) 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7)
2. Yuliya Sidenko (SD) def. Sydney Power (NKU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Emma Kranendonk (SD) def. Danielle Donahue (NKU) 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (3)
4. Milica Pavlovic (SD) def. Sierra Nellessen (NKU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Elise van Zijst (SD) def. Nicole Soutar (NKU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Maria Pandya (SD) def. NKU - default
Doubles Results
1. Klara Skopac/Danielle Donahue (NKU) def. Emma Kranendonk/Elise van Zijst (SD) 7-6 (12)
2. Nicole Soutar/Sydney Power (NKU) def. Milica Pavlovic/Yuliya Sidenko (SD) 6-1