MISHAWAKA, Ind. - The Saint Mary's tennis team took a 5-4 win over crosstown foe Bethel on Friday afternoon.

 

Alayna Campbell and Emma Kealy gave Saint Mary's the lead with an 8-4 win at one doubles. The Pilots tied the match at one flight apiece after Kathleen McLeod and Hannah Gerner were stopped short in an 8-5 final at three doubles. Leah Hosang and Kalyn Borger edged their two doubles counterparts by an 8-6 score to put the Belles back ahead. 

 

The overall match score stayed tight throughout singles play. Borger fell in a 6-2, 6-1 five singles match, but Leah Hosang battled out a 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (11-9) win at three singles to again give Saint Mary's a lead. Emma Kealy was in a long tiebreaker of her own but came up just shy in a 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (12-10) setback at two singles to tie the match again. The Pilots went ahead 4-3 in the match after Kathleen McLeod had a tough 6-1, 6-4 decision go the other way in her four singles match. Annika Smith tied the overall score at 4-4 with a 6-3, 6-3 win at six singles. Alayna Campbell then closed out the team victory by earning a clinching 7-5, 6-4 win at one singles. 

 

Katie Hunter and Annika Smith picked up an exhibition doubles win by an 8-5 score. Hannah Gerner and Hunter, meanwhile, shouldered exhibition losses in singles as Gerner fell 6-2, 6-0 and Hunter was narrowly edged out 6-4, 6-4.

 

The Belles (15-2) will look to secure third place in the MIAA standings on Tuesday when they host Albion at 4:00 p.m. in their final conference match of the regular season.

 

 

  Saint Mary's College 5, Bethel University 4

 Singles competition
1. Alayna Campbell (SMC) def. Elizaveta Mikhailova (BETHEL) 7-5, 6-4
2. Alexia Pena (BETHEL) def. Emma Kealy (SMC) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (12-10)
3. Leah Hosang (SMC) def. Kyla Heckaman (BETHEL) 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (11-9)
4. Moana Martins (BETHEL) def. Kathleen McLeod (SMC) 6-1, 6-4
5. Saige Rinkenberger (BETHEL) def. Kalyn Borger (SMC) 6-2, 6-1
6. Annika Smith (SMC) def. Lindsay LaGrou (BETHEL) 6-3, 6-3

 Doubles competition
1. Alayna Campbell/Emma Kealy (SMC) def. Elizaveta Mikhailova/Kyla Heckaman (BETHEL) 8-4
2. Leah Hosang/Kalyn Borger (SMC) def. Alexia Pena/Moana Martins (BETHEL) 8-6
3. Saige Rinkenberger/Anna Story (BETHEL) def. Kathleen McLeod/Hannah Gerner (SMC) 8-5

Match Notes:
Saint Mary's College 15-2
Bethel University 5-6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,3,2,4,6,1)
Exhibition: Hunter/Smith (SMC) def. Blodgett/Plothow (BETHEL), 8-5
Calderon (BETHEL) def. Gerner (SMC), 6-2, 6-0
Plothow (BETHEL) def. Hunter (SMC), 6-4, 6-4