NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's tennis team had an 8-1 setback in conference competition against Kalamazoo on Tuesday afternoon.
Nikki Rust captured the opening game of her five singles match but was stopped by a 6-1, 6-0 final score.
Katie Hunter fell in a 6-2, 6-0 match at six singles. After falling in the first set 6-0,
Meredith Heckert battled throughout the second set as the senior held serve and broke serve to gain a 2-1 lead early. A short while later after both players held serve, Heckert's opponent was able to break serve to gain a 4-3 advantage. Ultimately, Heckert fell in the second set by a 6-4 margin to shoulder the setback at two singles.
Alayna Campbell also continued to fight down the stretch in her one singles match as she held serve late in the second set to stay alive at 5-3 but was unable to put together the late-set comeback in a 6-0, 6-3 final.
Kalyn Borger took a commanding 6-1 win in her first set at four singles. The junior trailed 3-2 in the second set before taking the next two games for a 4-3 lead. Her opponent broke her serve and held serve for a 5-4 advantage, but Borger held her serve after the next switch for a 5-5 tie. Borger then broke serve before losing just one point in the next game to hold serve and capture the 7-5 win for the straight-set victory.
Kathleen McLeod had a back-and-forth opening set at three singles. With the score tied 5-5, McLeod and her opponent went to deuce on the next game with McLeod serving, but the junior had her serve broken to trail 6-5. She came right back and returned the favor to break serve and force a set tiebreaker at 6-6. McLeod came up short in the tiebreaker by a 7-3 score and fell in the second set 6-0.
In exhibition singles play,
Bailey Siglow played a pair of singles matches but was unable to break through for a win on the afternoon.
The Belles (6-9, 3-2 MIAA) are back in action in a week when they host Hope at 4:00 p.m. on April 19.
Kalamazoo College 8, Saint Mary's College 1
Singles competition
1. Caroline Norton (KZOO-W) def.
Alayna Campbell (SMC) 6-0, 6-3
2. Sophie Zhuang (KZOO-W) def.
Meredith Heckert (SMC) 6-0, 6-4
3. Ella Knight (KZOO-W) def.
Kathleen McLeod (SMC) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
4.
Kalyn Borger (SMC) def. Maddie Hurley (KZOO-W) 6-1, 7-5
5. Meghan Killmaster (KZOO-W) def.
Nikki Rust (SMC) 6-1, 6-0
6. Ivy Walker (KZOO-W) def.
Katie Hunter (SMC) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Caroline Norton/Renee Torres (KZOO-W) def.
Kathleen McLeod/
Alayna Campbell (SMC) 8-0
2. Sophie Zhuang/Meghan Killmaster (KZOO-W) def.
Meredith Heckert/
Kalyn Borger (SMC) 8-6
3. Ella Knight/Maddie Hurley (KZOO-W) def.
Nikki Rust/
Katie Hunter (SMC) 8-2
Match Notes:
Kalamazoo College 7-8, 5-0 MIAA
Saint Mary's College 6-9, 3-2 MIAA
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,2,1,4,3)
