Box Score MORAGA, Calif. – After a busy morning of drying the rain-soaked courts, the Saint Mary's Women's Tennis team faced off against the Fresno State Bulldogs on a gloomy Friday afternoon in Moraga.
 
After the Bulldogs claimed the doubles point, the Gaels stormed back in singles, as they won four of the six matches. Lene Mari Hovda's match win was the biggest of them all, as she won in three sets to clinch the 4-3 victory for SMC.
 
CLOSE DOUBLES
After a gloomy morning, the sun began to peak through the cloud's as Friday's action got underway.
 
Stefanie Silva and Iman Khan led the way for the Gaels, as they powered through Fresno State's Meshkatolzahra Safi and Mariya Vyshkina. The SMC pairing played strong tennis from the first serve as they went on to win the match 6-2.
 
Olivia Rook and Madison Weekley got into their groove early against Carlotta Nonnis Marzano and Carolina Piferi, but the Bulldogs duo quickly found their footing and stormed back to win the match 6-2.
 
The doubles point hinged on the No.1 match between SMC's Jordan Harris and Lene Mari Hovda and Fresno State's Pang Jittakoat and Matilde Magrini. The Bulldogs jumped out to the quick start, as Harris and Hovda played from behind the entire match. 
 
With their backs against the wall with the visitors up 5-3, Saint Mary's came back to tie the match at 6-6. In the tiebreak, the Gaels luck ran out, as Jittakoat and Magrini closed out the match, claiming the doubles point in the process.
 
SUPER SINGLES
The singles match's got underway soon after, and it was another tense affair, as both teams battled until the bitter end.
 
SMC's Jordan Harris was unable to get going against CSUF's Pang Jittakoat. The Bulldogs player started quickly and never looked back, beating Harris 6-2, 6-3.
 
Iman Khan faced a difficult opponent in Carolina Piferi. The Fresno State player won the first set 6-3, before Khan bounced back to claim the second set 6-3. Khan fought hard to stay in the match, but Piferi was able to pull away, winning the match in the third set 6-2.
 
Olivia Rook played confident, composed tennis as she cruised by Cristina Flaquer 6-3, 6-2.
 
Tian Yu Dong, who didn't feature in doubles, used that extra rest to her advantage as she beat the Bulldogs Carlotta Nonnis Marzano. The freshman dominated the first set 6-1, before winning the second set in a 7-5 tiebreak.
 
In the No. 6 court, Stefanie Silva dominated CSUF's Mariya Vyshkina. Silva wasted no time going to work, as she won the first set 6-2, and the second set 6-3 shortly after.
 
Tied at 3-3, the overall win hinged on the match between SMC's Lene Mari Hovda and CSUF's Matilde Magrini. Magrini got off to the better start, holding off Hovda to win the first set in a 7-5 tiebreak. Hovda was unphased, as she bounced back to win the second set 6-4. 
 
With all to play for in the third set, Hovda took advantage, quickly breaking her opponent and jumping out to a 2-0 lead. Hovda never looked back, dominating the remainder of the third set, winning 6-1. 
 
Hovda's match win clinched the overall victory for the Gaels, as they outlasted the Bulldogs 4-3.
 
 
Saint Mary's (4-4) defeats Fresno State (5-6)
Mar. 10, 2023 in Moraga, Calif. 
Korth Tennis Courts
 
Doubles
 

1. Pang Jittakoat/Matilde Magrini (CSUF) def. Jordan Harris/Lene Mari Hovda (SMC), 6-7 (10-8)*
2. Stefanie Silva/Iman Khan (SMC) def. Meshkatolzahra Safi/Mariya Vyshkina (CSUF), 6-2
3. Carlotta Nonnis Marzano/Carolina Piferi (CSUF) def. Olivia Rook/Madison Weekley (SMC), 6-2

 
Order of Finish – 3, 2, 1*
 
 
Singles 
 

1. Pang Jittakoat (CSUF) def. Jordan Harris (SMC), 6-2, 6-3
2. Lene Mari Hovda (SMC) def. Matilde Magrini (CSUF), 5-7, 6-4, 6-1^
3. Olivia Rook (SMC) def. Cristina Flaquer (CSUF), 6-3, 6-2
4. Carolina Piferi (CSUF) def. Iman Khan (SMC), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
5. Tian Yu Dong (SMC) def. Carlotta Nonnis Marzano (CSUF), 6-1, 7-5
6. Stefanie Silva (SMC) def. Mariya Vyshkina (CSUF), 6-2, 6-3. 

 
Order of Finish – 1, 5, 3, 6, 4, 2 ^
^ Clinched overall win

NEXT UP
Saint Mary's will hope the rain continues to hold off as they are set to host the UC Davis Aggies this Sunday March 12 at 12 PM.