Belles Stopped by Saints

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Saint Mary's tennis team ended on the short side of a 6-3 final against Aquinas on Saturday night.

The Belles were narrowly edged out in both the one and two doubles flights. Mary Catherine Faller and Kayle Sexton lost an 8-6 match at the one doubles flight. Shannon Elliott and Audrey Kiefer fell by two games in a 9-7 final at the two doubles flight for the Belles.

Saint Mary's split the final results in the singles flights against Aquinas. Kayle Sexton, Shannon Elliott, and Andrea Fetters all earned individual wins for the Belles. Sexton claimed a 6-1, 6-3 victory at the number two singles flight. Elliott battled back after losing the second set to prevail 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 at three singles. Andrea Fetters took a straight-set victory at six singles by 6-2, 6-4 scores.

The Belles were close to making the dramatic comeback in singles play as Mary Catherine Faller and Audrey Kiefer had close matches for Saint Mary's. Faller lost by the minimum number of games in each set of a 6-4, 7-5 loss at one singles. Kiefer won her first set before falling in three sets by a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 final.

The Belles return to action in two weeks when they take on Cornell (Iowa) in Orlando, Florida on the first day of their spring break trip on Sunday, March 9.

Aquinas College 6, Saint Mary's College 3
Singles competition
1. Lauren Ramey (AQWT) def. Mary Catherine Faller (SMC) 6-4, 7-5
2. Kayle Sexton (SMC) def. Tiffany Tuori (AQWT) 6-1, 6-3
3. Shannon Elliott (SMC) def. Ariana Kabodian (AQWT) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
4. Daniela Fonseca (AQWT) def. Jackie Kjolhede (SMC) 6-1, 6-1
5. Marjeanne Bothma (AQWT) def. Audrey Kiefer (SMC) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
6. Andrea Fetters (SMC) def. Jenelle Miller (AQWT) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Lauren Ramey/Tiffany Tuori (AQWT) def. Mary Catherine Faller/Kayle Sexton (SMC) 8-6
2. Rilie DuShane/Gina Kukulski (AQWT) def. Shannon Elliott/Audrey Kiefer (SMC) 9-7
3. Marjeanne Bothma/Ariana Kabodian (AQWT) def. Margaret Faller/Sam Setterblad (SMC) 8-3