Box Score PALO ALTO, Calif. - Saint Mary's Women's Tennis were back in action on Saturday, as the #12 ranked Stanford bested the Gaels by a score of 7-0.
 
The Gaels faced a tough opponent in Stanford, but a handful of players rose to the challenge, playing well against one of the best programs in the country.
 
DIFFICULT DOUBLES
Doubles matches started the afternoon in sunny Palo Alto, as Stanford brought the heat to the Gaels and never looked back. 
 
In the #1 match, Jordan Harris and Lene Mari Hovda faced off against Angelica Blake and Alexis Blokhina. The Cardinal duo didn't allow the Gaels players any breathing room, winning the match 6-1. 
 
Stefanie Silva and Tian Yu Dong faced a similar fate, as Stanford's Sara Choy and Alexandra Yepifnova beat the SMC pairing 6-1 as well. 
 
In the #3 match, Oliva Rook and Madison Weekley put up a solid fight against Stanford's Connie Ma and Valencia Xu, but the Stanford pairing held firm, winning the match 6-2.
 
MAKING STANFORD WORK
SMC suffered a similar fate on the single's side, as the home team refused to let the Gaels gain momentum. 
 
Jordan Harris was the lone Gael to win a set against a Stanford player, as she came out swinging in her match against Alexandra Yepifnova. Although ITA ranks Yepifnova as the #41 ranked player across Division 1 tennis, Harris was unphased, winning the first set 6-4. 
 
Yepifnova fought hard to work herself back into the match, as Harris refused to back down. The Stanford player was able to take the second set 6-2, setting up a pivotal tiebreak to decide the match. 
 
Harris hung with Yepifnova for as long as she could, but a few lucky breaks for the Cardinal player sealed a 10-7 victory in the tiebreak.
 
Although Harris was unable to claim victory, she gave one of the best players in the country a run for her money. Harris' confidence bodes well for her and her Gaels teammates as the season continues to heat up.
 

Stanford (5-2) defeats Saint Mary's (2-3) 
Feb. 18, 2023 in Palo Alto, Calif. 
Taube Family Tennis Center
 
Doubles
 

1. Angelica Blake/Alexis Blokhina (STAN) def. Jordan Harris/Lene Mari Hovda (SMC), 6-1
2. Sara Choy/Alexandra Yepifnova (STAN) def. Stefanie Silva/Tian Yu Dong (SMC), 6-1 
3. Connie Ma and Valencia Xu (STAN) def. Olivia Rook/Madison Weekley (SMC), 6-2 

 
Order of Finish – 1, 2, 3
 
 
Singles 
 

1. Alexandra Yepifnova (STAN) def. Jordan Harris (SMC), 4-6, 6-2, 10-7
2. Connie Ma (STAN) def. Lene Mari Hovda (SMC), 6-2, 6-1
3. Alexis Blokhina (STAN) def. Olivia Rook (SMC), 6-4, 6-1
4. Valencia XU (STAN) def. Stefanie Silva (SMC), 6-1, 6-4 
5. Sara Choy (STAN) def. TianYu Dong (SMC), 6-2, 6-2 ^
6. Emma Sun (STAN) def. Madison Weekley (SMC), 6-4, 6-3 

 
Order of Finish – 3, 2, 5^,4, 6, 1
^ Clinched overall win
 
 
NEXT UP
Saint Mary's are back on the road this upcoming weekend as they head to Washington to face Washington State on Saturday February 25 before taking on Eastern Washington on Sunday February 26.