PENDLETON, Ind. - The Saint Mary's tennis team took a 4-3 win over IU-Kokomo before defeating Anderson 8-1 on Friday at the Pendleton Community Center.

 

The teams competed against one another in singles to begin the match against IU-Kokomo due to court availability. Anna Gardner took a 6-2, 6-1 win at three singles, and Alayna Campbell added a 6-1, 6-1 win at two singles for an early lead. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans was on the short end of a 6-3, 6-3 final at four singles. Hannah Gerner outlasted her opponent at six singles in a 6-4, 6-4 victory. Katie Hunter battled but came up just short in a tightly played 6-4, 6-4 final at five singles. Emma Kealy's one singles match went to a tiebreaker, and the deciding stanza went the other way in a 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8) competition. 

 

The match was then decided by doubles play. Following the NAIA format of doubles counting as a single point, the Belles clinched the win with decisive victories at one and two doubles. Emma Kealy and Anna Garner won a 6-2 one singles match. Alayna Campbell and Evelyn Demblans-Dechans then came off the court with a 6-3 decision in their favor at two singles. The Belles nearly made it a sweep of doubles, but Grace Clearwater and Hannah Gerner were narrowly edged out in a tiebreaker in a 7-6 (9-7) final at three doubles.

 

Michaela Hauer and  Genevieve Brawner won exhibition singles matches with Hauer taking a 6-1 win while Brawner prevailed 6-3. Olivia Erickson was on the short side of a 6-2 exhibition singles competition.

 

Saint Mary's then squared off against Anderson and set the tone early en route to the win. Alayna Campbell and Evelyn Demblans-Dechans secured an 8-1 win at one doubles. Grace Clearwater and Hannah Gerner did not drop a game en route to an 8-0 three doubles victory. Emma Kealy and Anna Gardner then won an 8-5 match at two doubles to give the Belles a 3-0 lead.

 

Emma Kealy gained a victory after her opponent retired, and Hannah Gerner took little time to earn a 6-0, 6-1 win at six singles. Alayna Campbell came off the court with a 6-3, 6-1 win at one singles. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans did not concede a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at three singles, and Anna Gardner won a 6-0, 6-1 match at four singles. Grace Clearwater battled until the end in a 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9) setback at five singles.

 

Katie Hunter, Michaela Hauer, and Genevieve Brawner all won exhibition singles matches. Hunter won 6-2 while Hauer and Brawner each won 6-0. Hauer and Olivia Erickson fell in an exhibition doubles match by a narrow 8-6 score.

 

The Belles (6-4) are back to competition on Sunday, March 10 when they face Illinois Tech in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on day one of their spring break trip.

 

 

 

Saint Mary's College 4, IU-Kokomo 3
 Singles competition
1. Maria Oliveira (IU-K) def. Emma Kealy (SMC) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8)
2. Alayna Campbell (SMC) def. Ava Allen (IU-K) 6-1, 6-1
3. Anna Gardner (SMC) def. Larissa O'Rourke (IU-K) 6-2, 6-1
4. Reiley Hiser (IU-K) def. E. Demblans-Dechans (SMC) 6-3, 6-3
5. Chloe Schmidt (IU-K) def. Katie Hunter (SMC) 6-4, 6-4
6. Hannah Gerner (SMC) def. Sophia Davidson (IU-K) 6-4, 6-4

 Doubles competition
1. Emma Kealy/Anna Gardner (SMC) def. Maria Oliveira/Larissa O'Rourke (IU-K) 6-2
2. Alayna Campbell/E. Demblans-Dechans (SMC) def. Sophia Davidson/Ava Allen (IU-K) 6-3
3. Reiley Hiser/Chloe Schmidt (IU-K) def. Grace Clearwater/Hannah Gerner (SMC) 7-6 (9-7)

Match Notes:
Saint Mary's College 5-4
IU-Kokomo 2-5
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,2,4,6,5,1)
Exhibition:
Hauer (SMC) def. Perrin (IU-K), 6-1
Brawner (SMC) def. Farkas (IU-K), 6-3
Koester (IU-K) def. Erickson (SMC), 6-2