Belles Battle in Tight Loss to Knights in MIAA Semifinal

• Kelsey Kopf and Elizabeth Preister won an 8-4 three doubles match.
• Preister claimed a 6-2, 6-1 six singles victory.
• Lilly Chamberlin won 6-1, 6-3 at five singles for the Belles.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's tennis team fought hard until the end in a 5-3 final against Calvin in an MIAA Tournament Semifinal on Thursday evening.

Maddie Minaudo and Lilly Chamberlin had several long points in their two doubles competition in an 8-2 loss which was not indicative of how tight the match was. Kelsey Kopf and Elizabeth Preister broke serve midway through their match and kept the momentum going until the end in an 8-4 win at three doubles. Monica Davy and Megan Davy trailed 6-1 at one doubles before storming back to tie the match at 6-6, but the pair fell just short in an 8-6 final.

Kelsey Kopf suffered a 6-3, 6-2 setback at three singles, and Monica Davy was stopped in a 6-0, 6-1 one singles final. The Belles continued to fight as they needed each of the remaining matches to take the team victory. Elizabeth Preister earned a 6-2, 6-1 win at six singles to make the overall match score 4-2. Lilly Chamberlin then prevailed in a 6-1, 6-3 final at five singles to edge the Belles within one at 4-3. Megan Davy fell behind after a 6-2 first set and trailed 5-1 in the second set before taking back-to-back games to make it 5-3, but the freshman was unable to overtake the deficit in a 6-3 second set as the Knights claimed the match.

Maddie Minaudo led her four singles match by a 6-4, 5-3 score, but the competition was stopped once the overall team decision was clinched as the match went unfinished.

The Belles conclude the season with a 12-8 overall record while finishing tied for second in the regular season conference standings.

Calvin College 5, Saint Mary's College 3
Singles competition
1. #25 Leah Newhof (CALVIN) def. Monica Davy (SMC) 6-0, 6-1
2. Madeline Brouwer (CALVIN) def. Megan Davy (SMC) 6-2, 6-3
3. Anna Asfour (CALVIN) def. Kelsey Kopf (SMC) 6-3, 6-2
4. Maddie Minaudo (SMC) vs. Lark Foote (CALVIN) 6-4, 5-3, unfinished
5. Lilly Chamberlin (SMC) def. Alexis Bonner (CALVIN) 6-1, 6-3
6. Elizabeth Preister (SMC) def. Brittney Statema (CALVIN) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Leah Newhof/Madeline Brouwer (CALVIN) def. Monica Davy/Megan Davy (SMC) 8-6
2. Lark Foote/Anna Asfour (CALVIN) def. Maddie Minaudo/Lilly Chamberlin (SMC) 8-2
3. Kelsey Kopf/Elizabeth Preister (SMC) def. Alexis Bonner/Brittney Statema (CALVIN) 8-4

Match Notes:
Calvin College 14-6
Saint Mary's College 12-8
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,1,6,5,2)