Belles Downed by Thunder

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Saint Mary's tennis team ran into a formidable foe in Wheaton (Ill.) on spring break as the Thunder won all nine flights for their tenth victory of the year.

The number two doubles and number three doubles matches were both decided by the minimum two games. Audrey Kiefer and Shannon Elliott had a close 8-6 loss at two doubles while Sam Setterblad and Margaret Faller lost a tough 9-7 match at three doubles.

Three of the singles matches went to tie breakers on the day as Mary Catherine Faller, Jackie Kjolhede, and Andrea Fetters all went to the super tiebreaker on Wednesday. After winning the opening set 6-3, the senior lost the second set 6-1 before her Wheaton counterpart took the super tiebreaker 10-3 at one singles.

Jackie Kjolhede came back after dropping the opening set 6-3 to take a 7-5 second set to force the tiebreaker. The junior was narrowly edged out in the tiebreaker by a 10-7 score at three singles. Andrea Fetters jumped out to an early advantage with a 6-0 win in the opening set before having the tables turned on her with a 6-2 loss in the second set. Fetters was then defeated 10-4 in the tiebreaker at five singles.

The Belles close out their spring break trip in Orlando with a match on Thursday against Illinois Wesleyan starting at 11:30 a.m.

Singles competition
1. Ray, Sarah (WHEATON) def. Mary Catherine Faller (SMC) 3-6, 6-1, 10-3
2. Buursma, Julie (WHEATON) def. Kayle Sexton (SMC) 6-4, 6-3
3. Schlabach, Lauren (WHEATON) def. Jackie Kjolhede (SMC) 6-3, 5-7, 10-7
4. Jones, Emily (WHEATON) def. Shannon Elliott (SMC) 6-0, 6-1
5. Nelson, Erika (WHEATON) def. Andrea Fetters (SMC) 0-6, 6-2, 10-4
6. Kaiser, Katherine (WHEATON) def. Audrey Kiefer (SMC) 6-0, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Ray, Sarah/Buursma, Julie (WHEATON) def. Mary Catherine Faller/Kayle Sexton (SMC) 8-3
2. Schlabach, Lauren/Nelson, Erika (WHEATON) def. Audrey Kiefer/Shannon Elliott 8-6
3. Kaiser, Katherine/Parrish, Taylor (WHEATON) def. Sam Setterblad/Margaret Faller 9-7