Over the weekend, Saint Mary’s triumphed 8-1 over Trine in its second MIAA match of the spring season.
The Belles (6-3, 2-0 MIAA) began Saturday’s contest by winning all three of their doubles matchups. The junior pairing of Audrey Kiefer and Shannon Elliott led the way with an 8-2 win. The sophomore pairing of Margaret Faller and Andrea Fetters quickly followed suit with another 8-2 victory, while senior Mary Catherine Faller and junior Kayle Sexton captured an 8-3 win of their own in the first doubles position.
“All of the doubles teams looked better,” Belles coach Dale Campbell said. “The doubles wins were all convincing.
“Margaret Faller and Andrea Fetters are now 4-0 in doubles and the No. 1 and No. 2 teams are both improving. We have worked more on doubles in practice, and it seems to be paying off.”
Saint Mary’s was nearly as successful in the singles portion, winning five out of a possible six matches. Mary Catherine Faller suffered the only loss for the Belles on the day, falling 6-1, 6-0 in the one singles match of the afternoon. At the two spot, Sexton won in a super tiebreaker, 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-5). Belles junior Jackie Kjolhede earned a win in the three singles by dropping just two games on her way to a 6-2, 6-0 victory, and Elliott took a 6-1, 6-2 decision at four singles. Fetters won a 6-1, 6-0 match at number five singles and Kiefer won in the sixth spot, 6-2, 6-2.
The Belles will return to action against Indiana Wesleyan today after last week’s non-conference contest against the Wildcats was postponed due to weather. Campbell said the tilt with Division-I Indiana Wesleyan would not be an easy matchup.
“It is always tough playing a team that has players on scholarship,” he said. “They are ranked nationally and a perennial power in their conference. We want to win, but the main priority is getting better for our conference battles”
The Belles’ next conference match will take place on April 9 against Albion, last year’s third-place conference finisher.
“Albion is always strong and will be a tough opponent upcoming, so our focus is improving every match in doubles and continue to hit more quality shots every match, every point,” Campbell said.
“It will take a concentrated effort every match and every practice we have over the next 25 days. The season moves really fast for us at this point.”
