SMC Tennis: Belles earn league victory over Hope
BY LISA REIJULA
Sports Writer
The Saint Mary's tennis team began their climb back to the top of the MIAA conference standings Tuesday with a 6-3 road victory over Hope College.
With the win, the Belles improved to 3-2 in the MIAA and 12-5 overall for the season.
At No. 1 singles, Hope's standout freshman Anneliese Fox defeated Jeannie Knish in a 6-1, 6-4 contest. Belles freshman Kristen Palombo notched a 6-3, 6-3 win over Stephanie Springer at No. 2 singles.
After dropping the first set 3-6, Saint Mary's captain Kaitlin Cutler won at the No. 3 spot, beating Priya Malviya by taking the second and third sets, by 6-3, 6-4 scores.
At No. 4 singles, Kris Spriggle also earned a three-set victory for the Belles. Spriggle came back to beat Jennifer Coleman after falling 4-6 in the first set to take the second and third sets 6-3, 6-3. In the No. 5 slot, senior Elisa Ryan dispatched Kortney Devito in yet another close three-set contest, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. Erin Bradley got the Flying Dutch their second singles win on the afternoon with her 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Saint Mary's Angela Sandner at No. 6 singles.
Hope won two of three doubles matches, but the Belles were able to hang on for the victory. The Flying Dutch's duo of Coleman and Springer beat Knish and Palombo 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles. Hope also took the No. 2 doubles match, as the team of Fox and Malviya beat the Saint Mary's pair of Cutler and Ryan, 6-2, 6-2.
Saint Mary's edged out a win in the No. 3 match as Spriggle and freshman Lindsay Cook won over Deanna Clouse and Anna DeHaan of Hope 6-4, 6-3.
The loss dropped Hope to an even 3-3 in the MIAA and 9-8 on the spring season.
The win gives Saint Mary's a boost in the MIAA conference standings and momentum going into today's home match against Calvin College. The game will start at 3 p.m.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, April 16, 2003
