WINONA LAKE, Mich. - The Saint Mary's tennis team shouldered a 6-1 setback at Grace College on Wednesday to conclude their fall season.

 

Following the NAIA format of having doubles collectively count as a single point instead of three separate points, the host Lancers took the early lead by capturing all three flights. Alayna Campbell and Emma Kealy were on the short side of a 6-1 final at one doubles. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans and Anna Gardner nearly earned the victory but were just edged out in a 6-4 match at two doubles. Grace Clearwater and Hannah Gerner fell by a 6-2 margin at three doubles.

 

Alayna Campbell had a 6-2, 6-0 setback at one singles. Emma Kealy was on the wrong side of a 6-1, 6-2 final at two singles. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans powered her way to a 6-1 win in the opening set, was stopped 6-1 in the second set, and prevailed 10-8 in the tiebreaker for the win at three singles. Anna Gardner had a tough 6-1, 6-1 loss at four singles. Hannah Gerner and Grace Clearwater both went to tiebreakers in their singles matches. Gerner forced the tiebreaker after bouncing back from a 6-2 loss in the opening set with a 6-3 win in set two, but the tiebreaker went the other way in a 10-4 final. Clearwater, meanwhile, took her opening set by a 6-3 margin but fell 6-4 in set two before coming up short in a 10-3 tiebreaker.

 

The Belles (1-2) get back to competing on February 10 when they host Huntington.

 

Grace College 6, Saint Mary's College 1
 Singles competition
1. Jimena Ramirez (GRACE) def. Alayna Campbell (SMC) 6-2, 6-0
2. Anna Graves (GRACE) def. Emma Kealy (SMC) 6-1, 6-2
3. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans (SMC) def. Lydia Ruegsegger (GRACE) 6-1, 1-6, 1-0 (10-8)
4. Molli Runestad (GRACE) def. Anna Gardner (SMC) 6-1, 6-1
5. Kiersten Martin (GRACE) def. Hannah Gerner (SMC) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-4)
6. Lydia Miller (GRACE) def. Grace Clearwater (SMC) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-3)

 Doubles competition
1. Jimena Ramirez/Alejandra Sandoval (GRACE) def. Alayna Campbell/Emma Kealy (SMC) 6-1
2. Anna Graves/Lydia Ruegsegger (GRACE) def. Evelyn Demblans-Dechans/Anna Gardner (SMC) 6-4
3. Kiersten Martin/Molli Runestad (GRACE) def. Grace Clearwater/Hannah Gerner (SMC) 6-2

Match Notes:
Saint Mary's College 1-2
Grace College 8-4