HOLLAND, Mich. - A stellar season for the Saint Mary's tennis team came to a close in a 5-0 setback against top-seeded Hope in the MIAA Tournament Final on Saturday afternoon.

 

Grace Clearwater and Katie Hunter fell in an 8-1 final at three doubles. Emma Kealy and Anna Gardner were on the short end of an 8-2 match at two doubles. Alayna Campbell and Evelyn Demblans-Dechans were stopped in an 8-3 one doubles final as Hope took a big lead into singles play.

 

Clearwater was on the wrong side of a 6-1, 6-0 match at five singles, and Katie Hunter battled until the end in a 6-0, 6-1 setback at six singles as Hope clinched the match. 

 

The remaining four matches being contested were unfinished. Alayna Campbell had barely started her second set after a 6-3 loss in the opening stanza as the junior trailed 2-0 in the second set at one singles. Emma Kealy had won her opening set 6-3 and was leading in the second set 3-0 at two singles when the match ended due to Hope taking the requisite five flights for the decision. 

 

Evelyn Demblans-Dechans also had won her opening set at two singles by a 6-4 margin but had been looking to a third set after a 6-1 loss in the second set. Anna Gardner was on her way to a comeback as the freshman bounced back from a 6-2 loss in the first set by taking a 5-3 lead in the second set at four singles. 

 

The Belles finished the season 17-7 overall and made their first MIAA Tournament Final appearance in the top-four tournament format, which started in the 2012 season.