NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's tennis team capped off an undefeated month of March with a 9-0 conference victory over Alma on Wednesday evening.

 

Emma Kealy and Anna Gardner got the Belles off to a strong start with an 8-4 win at two doubles. Alayna Campbell and Evelyn Demblans-Dechans came off the court a short while later with an 8-4 one doubles win of their own. Hannah Gerner and Katie Hunter were in a back-and-forth battle from the opening serve at three doubles. Hunter held her serve late in the match to tie things up at 6-6, and Gerner did the same to make it 7-7 and force a tiebreaker. The pair gained the early edge and never looked back in a 7-2 decision to give the Belles a 3-0 lead.

 

Anna Gardner made quick work of her four singles match as the freshman was off the court with a quick 6-1 ,6-1 victory. Alayna Campbell clinched the team win with a 6-2, 6-1 win at one singles, and Hannah Gerner captured a 6-1, 6-1 win at six singles moments later. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans earned a 6-3, 6-3 decision at three singles. 

 

Emma Kealy and Grace Clearwater each had lengthy matches in singles play. Kealy had numerous points that were decided by no fewer than 20 shots. The sophomore went to a tiebreaker in the first set and put the pedal to the metal by taking all seven points needed to win the set. Kealy then continued to roll as she ultimately won 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 at two singles. The final match of the day was Clearwater's back-and-forth battle at five singles. Clearwater won the first set in a tiebreaker by a 7-6 (7-3) score but fell in the second set 6-3 to force a ten-point super tiebreaker for the match. Neither player had more than a two-point advantage at any moment in the tiebreaker until Clearwater rattled off the final three points to win 10-7.

 

The Belles (12-4, 2-0 MIAA) have more than a week off until their next match as they are set to travel to Calvin on Saturday, April 6 for a 1:00 p.m. conference match.

 

 

Saint Mary's College 9, Alma College 0
 Singles competition
1. Alayna Campbell (SMC) def. Karly Kushner (ALMA) 6-2, 6-1
2. Emma Kealy (SMC) def. Leah Wronikowski (ALMA) 7-6 (7-0), 6-2
3. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans (SMC) def. Kayla Weller (ALMA) 6-3, 6-3
4. Anna Gardner (SMC) def. Jada Zerlaut (ALMA) 6-1, 6-1
5. Grace Clearwater (SMC) def. Holly Hall (ALMA) 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 1-0 (10-7)
6. Hannah Gerner (SMC) def. Annie Ross (ALMA) 6-1, 6-1

 Doubles competition
1. Alayna Campbell/Evelyn Demblans-Dechans (SMC) def. Kayla Weller/Leah Wronikowski (ALMA) 8-4
2. Emma Kealy/Anna Gardner (SMC) def. Karly Kushner/Jada Zerlaut (ALMA) 8-4
3. Hannah Gerner/Katie Hunter (SMC) def. Annie Ross/Holly Hall (ALMA) 8-7 (7-2)

Match Notes:
Alma College 2-6, 0-2 MIAA
Saint Mary's College 12-4, 2-0 MIAA
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,1,3,6,2,5)
T-3:09  A-35