ORLANDO, Fla. - The Saint Mary's tennis team won 9-0 against Howard Payne and edged St. Scholastica 5-4 for their fourth and fifth consecutive wins, respectively.
Margaret Boden and Jackie Kjolhede took an 8-1 decision at number three doubles, Shannon Elliott and Kayle Sexton were 8-3 winners at number two doubles, and Mary Catherine Faller and Audrey Kiefer won 8-5 at number one doubles against Howard Payne to give the Belles an early advantage. Elliott, Kjolhede, Kiefer, and Boden clinched the win for Saint Mary's with straight-set victories in singles play as the Belles claimed all nine flights.
The second match of the day proved to be much closer. Saint Mary's repeated with three wins in the three doubles contests of the match. The Belles, however, fell in four of the next five singles matches of the day with Audrey Kiefer taking a 6-3, 6-0 win at number five singles. Shannon Elliott took the first set of her three singles match with a 6-3 score. After falling 6-2 in the second set, the outcome of the flight and the entire match was on the line in the third set of play. Elliott was able to battle through and claim the Belles' fifth consecutive team win with a 6-4 win of the set.
The Belles (5-1) will have a day off before competing against St. Lawrence and Illinois Wesleyan on Thursday at noon and 6:30 p.m.
