MISHAWAKA, Ind. - The Saint Mary's tennis team had a 6-3 setback against Judson in their first dual match of the year on Monday evening at the South Bend Racquet Club.

 

In a "no-ad" format, the teams played just one point to determine game winners when the score reached 40-40 rather than playing a traditional deuce format. As a result, Meredith Heckert and Kathleen McLeod had a tight match at three doubles go the other way in an 8-1 final as the pair had multiple deuce opportunities come up short. Lucy Chamberlin and Jane Price battled back from a 6-3 deficit in their two doubles competition to pull within a game at 6-5, but the tandem came up on the short end of an 8-5 final. Alyssa Gulli and Alayna Campbell jumped out to a big 7-2 lead in their one doubles match as the pair fought off a late comeback by their counterparts for an 8-6 win.

 

Meredith Heckert had several long rallies in her four singles match, but the senior was unable to catch the breaks needed in a 6-1, 6-2 loss. Likewise, Lucy Chamberlin's battle at one singles fell short in a 6-2, 6-1 final. Kathleen McLeod battled back in early deficits in both sets of her five singles competition before shouldering a 6-4, 6-2 setback as the Eagles clinched the team decision.

 

Jane Price had a marathon first set in her six singles match. The sophomore went ahead 3-1 before her opponent rattled off three consecutive games for a 4-3 lead. Price came back to tie the set at 4-4 before breaking serve to go ahead 5-4. Price's opponent returned the favor by breaking serve to knot the score again at 5-5, but Price broke serve for a 6-5 advantage before holding serve for the 7-5 win in the set. The sophomore dropped the opening game of the second set before taking the next six games for the 6-1 win. Alyssa Gulli, meanwhile, hardly missed a beat in a 6-1, 6-2 win at two singles. Alayna Campbell had a lengthy battle to end the match as the lone competition on the court in three singles. The freshman captured the opening set by a 6-2 margin but fell in the second set by that same 6-2 score as the match moved to a 10-point tiebreaker. The tiebreaker was tightly contested as neither player was able to gain more than a three-point lead. Campbell gained an edge at 7-4 and continued to lead at 8-6, but her counterpart used back-to-back points to tie the score before capturing the tiebreaker 10-8.

 

In exhibition singles play, Nikki Rust took a pair of wins by 6-0 and 8-0 scores on the afternoon.

 

The Belles play a scrimmage this Wednesday before closing out their fall slate of competition on Sunday at the Hillsdale Tournament.

 

 

Judson University 6, Saint Mary's College 3

 Singles competition 

1. Sofia Corona Garza (JUDSON) def. Lucy Chamberlin (SMC) 6-2, 6-1

2. Alyssa Gulli (SMC) def. Hailey Haws (JUDSON) 6-1, 6-2

3. Samantha Brackenrig (JUDSON) def. Alayna Campbell (SMC) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8)

4. Linda Nhiwatiwa (JUDSON) def. Meredith Heckert (SMC) 6-1, 6-2

5. Kelsey Quiett (JUDSON) def. Kathleen McLeod (SMC) 6-4, 6-2

6. Jane Price (SMC) def. Caroline Johnson (JUDSON) 7-5, 6-1

 

 Doubles competition 

1. Alayna Campbell/Alyssa Gulli (SMC) def. Sofia Corona Garza/Lizeth Medina Diaz (JUDSON) 8-6

2. Samantha Brackenrig/Kelsey Quiett (JUDSON) def. Lucy Chamberlin/Jane Price (SMC) 8-5

3. Linda Nhiwatiwa/Hailey Haws (JUDSON) def. Meredith Heckert/Kathleen McLeod (SMC) 8-1

 

Match Notes:

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,5,6,2,3)