Belles earn 7-2 victory
By KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
It was a benchmark day for senior Annie Knish as the Belles laid low the Flying Dutch of Hope College 7-2.
As Knish stepped off the court at the end of her No. 1 doubles match she was smiling for more than the fact that her team had clinched a victory against former MIAA tennis powerhouse Hope. The senior, four-year player was smiling because for the first time she could add her own point to the team's win with her first individual win against Hope.
"I've never beaten Hope, ever," Knish said. "This is my first time beating Hope, let alone at No. 1 singles so it was a great day. It was one of the best matches of my college career."
Last season, the Belles made MIAA history as the first team besides Hope to win the conference title. But that win came without a victory at the No. 2 singles spot, where Knish was playing, and the No. 1 doubles spot where she teamed with Natalie Cook.
But this year the results were different. Knish already had one win under her belt against Hope's Emily Reeves when she stepped off the court after her No. 1 singles match. That 6-3, 6-4 victory was augmented when she teamed with younger sister Jeannie to defeat Jennifer Coleman and Stephanie Springer at No. 1 doubles.
"The last couple of conference matches I've been getting some W's for the Belles, and it feels good because I feel like I'm actually contributing," Knish said.
Knish led a Belles charge that started by knocking out Hope's confidence in singles and then cleaning up with three straight doubles wins. Against Hope, which is the only other contender for the MIAA championship, playing tennis is only part of the battle.
"In singles we just crushed their confidence, and that was the name of the game," said junior Elisa Ryan. "Tennis was just part of it, the physical part today."
Before the match even began you could feel the rivalry. The tennis courts, usually occupied by quiet fans and quiet players, was full of yells from both sides of the court. Knowing how much Tuesday's match would be a head game, both teams spent the time prior to the first serve trying to psych out their opponent.
The Belles took control of their mental game and their physical game fell in line.
"It's always [good to get a win]. [Hope] is a class act," said head coach Dee Stevenson. "[The Belles] are smart players, they know what they have to do on the court."
The battle between the conference rivals manifested itself in the final match. Even though Saint Mary's had already clinched the win, taking six of the eight matches that had been played, everyone was focused on the No. 3 doubles match that was in the second set.
Sophomore Kris Spriggle and junior Angie Sandner had gotten off to a good start, winning the first set. But early in the second set, Hope's Dee Clause and Megan McDowell were making a comeback. The Flying Dutch had taken four games, the Belles had only taken one.
But some carefully placed shots by Spriggle and Sandner allowed them to even the set at four and eventually pushed the Belles ahead. They won the set and took home a 2-0 match victory to give the final 7-2 score.
The win at No. 3 doubles gave the Belles a clean sweep in doubles after Ryan and Kaitlin Cutler took home a solid 6-4, 6-1 victory at No. 2.
That doubles win was a little bit of payback for Ryan, who dropped her No. 5 singles match to Springer. For the junior, who hadn't lost since her freshman year, Springer provided tough competition Ryan hadn't faced in awhile.
"I definitely wasn't playing my game," Ryan said. "I think that she's a very, very talented player and without giving excuses for my match I'm skeptical as to why she's playing the fifth spot."
Sandner suffered the only other loss of the match, dropping No. 6 singles to Clause, 6-0, 3-6, 6-1. Jeannie Knish, Cutler and Spriggle won their matches at No.2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles respectively.
The win moved the Belles record to 5-0 in the MIAA and dropped Hope to 1-1 in the conference. The Belles have a week and a half break before facing off against DePauw April 20.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, April 10, 2002
