BEREA, Ohio - The Saint Mary's tennis team kicked off the fall portion of their 2023-24 schedule with a 5-4 win over Franciscan on Friday evening at Baldwin Wallace University.

 

Grace Clearwater and Hannah Gerner set the tone in doubles with an 8-2 win at the three doubles flight for the Belles. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans and Anna Gardner teamed up to take an 8-4 victory at two doubles. Alayna Campbell and Emma Kealy came up short in an 8-4 final at one doubles.

 

Anna Gardner was the first one off the court as the freshman took a decisive 6-1, 6-0 victory at four singles. Alayna Campbell battled back and nearly forced a third set but fell in a 6-0, 7-6 (7-2) match at one singles. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans put the Belles ahead 4-2 overall with a 6-2, 6-4 win at three singles. Emma Kealy had a tight 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 setback at two singles on the night. Hannah Gerner battled her way to a match-clinching win with a thrilling 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-2 final at five singles. Grace Clearwater nearly completed a comeback at six singles but was stopped short in a super tiebreaker in a 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 1-0 (11-9) nailbiter.

 

Katie Hunter and Olivia Erickson each competed in exhibition matches on the night. The pair teamed up for an 8-3 doubles win. Hunter went on to take an 8-4 exhibition singles win, and Erickson prevailed 6-1 in an exhibition singles match of her own.

 

The Belles (1-0) will stay in Ohio and travel to Ada for a match against Ohio Northern on Saturday morning starting at 10:00 a.m.

 

 

Saint Mary's College 5, Franciscan 4
 Singles competition
1. Maria Herrera (FRN) def. Alayna Campbell (SMC) 6-0, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Olivia Colby (FRN) def. Emma Kealy (SMC) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
3. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans (SMC) def. Claire Cardie (FRN) 6-2, 6-4
4. Anna Gardner (SMC) def. Jordan Beltavski (FRN) 6-1, 6-0
5. Hannah Gerner (SMC) def. Margaret Vernau (FRN) 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-2
6. Veronica Saunders (FRN) def. Grace Clearwater (SMC) 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 1-0 (11-9)

 Doubles competition
1. Maria Herrera/Olivia Colby (FRN) def. Alayna Campbell/Emma Kealy (SMC) 8-4
2. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans/Anna Gardner (SMC) def. Claire Cardie/Veronica Saunders (FRN) 8-4
3. Grace Clearwater/Hannah Gerner (SMC) def. Jordan Beltavski/Delaney Dawson (FRN) 8-2

Match Notes:
Saint Mary's College 1-0
Franciscan 1-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,3,2,5,6)
Exhibition: Hunter/Erickson (SMC) def. Vernau/Howard (FRN), 8-3
Hunter (SMC) def. Stickney (FRN), 8-4
Erickson (SMC) def. Franzone (FRN), 6-1