Saint Mary’s swept Albion, 9-0, on Saturday to give a Senior Day performance to remember.
Belles head coach Dale Campbell said the team’s two seniors, Margaret Faller and Andrea Fetters, have made a large influence on the program during over the last four seasons. They are the team captains for the Belles (13-5, 4-2 MIAA) as well.
“They have been a positive and consistent influence on our team,” Campbell said. “They have been team players throughout their careers. They go about their business the same way every match. They both had a great day Saturday and are both deserving.”
Faller and sophomore Maddie Minaudo succeeded in the first match of the day with an 8-0 win at No. 2 doubles. Fetters and junior Kaity Venters then pulled ahead from what was a 4-3 match at No. 3 doubles with an 8-3 win. Freshman Monica Davy and junior Sam Setterblad then won 8-6 at No. 1 doubles to sweep the doubles portion of the match. Campbell said all the doubles teams delivered great performances against Albion (9-6, 2-4).
“All of the doubles teams played great down the stretch to win their matches and a great comeback at No. 1 by Davy and Setterblad,” Campbell said.
The closest competition of the day came in singles play when Albion sophomore Olivia Conover split 7-5 sets with Setterblad, but Setterblad came away with a 10-2 tiebreaker for the victory.
“I think we go into those [close matches] very composed,” Campbell said. “We have had an incredible record in close matches this year. Sam believes she will win the close ones, and I think she drew upon her past successes.”
The Belles secured the team victory with the first two matches of the singles portion, won by Minaudo and freshman Elizabeth Preister. The rest of the team followed with their individual successes, as Fetters, Davy and Faller all won their matches in straight sets to bring the score to 9-0.
Saint Mary’s will go up against Kalamazoo (8-9, 5-0) on Tuesday in hopes of ending the Hornets’ three-game streak and handing them their first conference loss. Campbell said that the opportunity to enter the quickly approaching MIAA tournament in a higher seed because of a victory increases his team’s need to come out fighting.
“I don't think we feel the pressure, only that we have an opportunity to go in with a higher seed,” Campbell said. “We will just approach this as an opportunity to beat Kalamazoo, so we just have to come out ready to fight. I think it simply can help your seed position and just confidence in beating a high-level opponent.
“I think our team handles each match as it comes. We talk a lot about playing our best every day and controlling what we can control.”
Saint Mary’s will take on Kalamazoo on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Saint Mary’s tennis courts in its final home match of the season.
