Moraga, CA - The No. 49 Saint Mary's women's tennis team defeated Gonzaga 4-0 in their first round match of the West Coast Conference Championships. The Gaels won the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead, and then went on to win three consecutive singles matches to clinch the victory. Due to time constraints, the three remaining singles matches were left unfinished.
In doubles action the Gaels showed their dominance, winning two matches at the No. 1 and 3 positions. At the one spot, Jessica Hoath and Nienke Strijbis bageled Gonzaga's Emily Anderson and Aglaya Kokurina, 8-0, while Alex Poorta and Claire Soper defeated Sydney Lederhouse and Clare Dodge, 8-2 at the No. 3 position. The unfinished match was not far behind, as Marah Calvo and Stef Ordoveza were winning 7-2 before the competition was abandoned.
Soper demonstrated great efficiency in singles play, by not giving up a single game, as she defeated Rika Mehndiratta 6-0, 6-0 at the three spot. The next Saint Mary's point came from senior Stef Ordoveza at the No. 5 position, as she topped Sydney Lederhouse 6-2, 6-1. Marah Calvo clinched the match for the Gaels while playing at the four spot, winning 6-1, 6-0.
The Gaels' will face the winner of the Loyola Marymount and San Francisco match in the second round of the WCC Championship, scheduled for Saturday, April 19 at 3:00 PM at the Korth Tennis Complex.