After 13 straight wins, quite easily the best mark in program history, Saint Mary’s tennis saw its baker’s dozen get burned last weekend.
The Belles of Saint Mary’s came into the weekend 3-0 in conference play, looking to avenge a 0-5 loss to Hope College in the Michiana Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Tournament Semi-finals. Instead, it is back to the chalkboard for the women.
Doubles’ play saw a clean sweep by the Flying Dutchmen, by scores of 8-1, 8-3 and 8-4.
In singles play, the Belles did not fair much better. Only freshmen Leah Hosang and Evelyn Demblans-Dechans won their matches. Hosang won a closely contested first set 7-6 and used the momentum to win her second set 6-3. Demblans-Dechans won hers more quickly, first 6-1 and 6-4.
There were two notable losing performances with freshman Emma Kealy and senior Kathleen McLeod putting up valiant efforts but coming up short.
When the dust settled, Hope earned a dominant win, 7-2, and its third conference win of the season, putting them in second place behind Kalamazoo.
After a disappointing result on Friday night, the Belles came into Sunday hoping for a better result. The Kalamazoo Hornets did not allow them that opportunity.
Unlike against Hope, the Belles won a doubles play match as senior Lucy Chamberlin and Hosang earned an 8-5 win. The other two doubles matches were close losses with sophomore Alayna Campbell and Kealy falling short 5-8. Demblans-Dechans and McLeod lost a hotly contested set, 6-8.
In the singles contests, the Belles lost the top three matches. Chamberlin lost to her opponent 4-6 and 3-6 while Campbell lost 2-6 and 4-6. Kealy won her opening set 6-3 but then lost her next two 3-6 each.
Hosang was the lone bright spot for the Belles in singles play. After losing her first set in a 0-6 blowout, she won her following two sets comfortably, winning 6-2 and 6-3.
In the fifth match, McLeod nearly won the first set, losing 6-7 before falling 2-6. In the final singles match of the day, Demblans-Dechans lost 4-6 and 3-6.
As they did against Hope College, the Belles fell 7-2 to the Kalamazoo Hornets.
For Kalamazoo, they maintain their top spot in the MIAA with a 9-6 record overall and a 5-0 record in conference play. The back-to-back losses for the Belles mean that they are now 13-2, with a 3-2 record in the MIAA. While they are no longer undefeated, the Belles still hold fourth place in the conference. Besides Kalamazoo and Hope, only Trine University has a better record than Saint Mary’s, where they are 9-3 (1-0).
The Belles will have a chance to pass the TStorm’ on April 12 when they will travel down to Angola.
While the Belles may have a ten-day break between matches, the schedule will be quite busy for Trine, something Saint Mary’s will benefit immensely from. In the ten days leading up to match day, Trine will host Alma and then go on the road to play Hope before welcoming the Belles. There is also the potential for the team to make up its postponed game against Adrian.
A match-up against Trine might be just what the doctor ordered. In the past four years, the two teams have played twice, with the Belles winning 6-3 in 2019, losing a closely contested 5-4 match, before winning again 6-3.
The match is slated for a 4:00 p.m. start in Angola, Indiana.
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