MORAGA, Calif. – After a rain delay canceled their midweek match, the Gaels were finally back on the courts Friday afternoon as they hosted the #62 ranked LMU Lions.
 
After a slow start to doubles, the Gaels rebounded in singles, but ultimately their comeback came up just short as the Lions held on to win 4-3.
 
SLOW DOUBLES
The Gaels struggled to find momentum from the early going against the Lions, as the visitors brought the heat and made life difficult for SMC.
 
Jordan Harris and Lene Mari Hovda did their best to hang in their match against Veronika Miroshnichenko and Eva Marie Voracek, but the LMU pairing were too controlling as they went on to win 6-2. 
 
In the #2 match, Stefanie Silva and Iman Khan hung with the Lions Isabella Tcherkes-Zade and Wiktoria Rutkowska, but an injury caused the game to be called off with the visitors leading 5-4.
 
LMU's Stefania Rogozinska-Dzik and Anna Paradisi game SMC's Olivia Rook and Tian Yu Dong little room to breathe as they won their doubles match 6-1. 
 
BOUNCE BACK
On the single's side, it was too little too late for SMC. Despite strong singles matches, the Gaels were unable to complete the comeback against the Lions.
 
The SMC players brought the intensity to singles, one of them being Stefanie Silva. Silva was lights out from the first serve as she beat the Lions Kim-Michaela Zahraj 6-4, 6-1. 
 
Freshman Tian Yu Dong had a great performance in the #5 match, coming back from a set down to claim victory over Isabella Tcherkes-Zade. After Tcherkes-Zade took the first set 6-4, Dong battled back to win the second 7-5, forcing a third set tiebreak. The momentum was on home court, as Dong battled to win the tiebreak 10-4. 
 
Lene Mari Hovda also won her match in three set fashion, as she faced off against Wiktoria Rutkowska. After losing the first set 6-2, the comeback was on, as Hovda won the second set 6-4 to force a third set tiebreak. The tiebreak was intense, as each player battled hard for each point. In the end, Hovda came out on top to win the third set 10-7. 
 
Jordan Harris, Olivia Rook, and Iman Khan all battled hard as well, but were unable to swing the momentum in their direction. 
 
 
LMU (7-6) def. Saint Mary's (5-7), 4-3
Mar. 31, 2023 in Moraga, Calif. 
Korth Tennis Courts
 
Doubles
 

1. Veronika Miroshnichenko/Eva Marie Voracek (LMU) def. Jordan Harris/Lene Mari Hovda (SMC), 6-2 *
2. Isabella Tcherkes-Zade/Wiktoria Rutkowska (LMU) vs Stefanie Silva/Iman Khan (SMC), DNF 5-4
3. Stefania Rogozinska-Dzik/Anna Paradisi (LMU) def. Olivia Rook/Tian Yu Dong (SMC), 6-1

 
Order of Finish – 3, 1 *
 
 
Singles 
 

1. Veronika Miroshnichenko (LMU) def. Jordan Harris (SMC), 6-0, 6-1
2. Lene Mari Hovda (SMC) def. Wiktoria Rutkowska (LMU), 2-6, 6-4, 10-7
3. Eva Marie Voracek (LMU) def. Olivia Rook (SMC), 6-4, 6-2
4. Anna Paradisi (LMU) def. Iman Khan (SMC), 6-4, 6-3 ^
5. Tian Yu Dong (SMC) def. Isabella Tcherkes-Zade (LMU), 4-6, 7-5, 10-4 
6. Stefanie Silva (SMC) def. Kim-Michaela Zahraj (LMU), 6-4, 6-1

 
Order of Finish – 1, 3, 6, 4 ^, 5, 2
 
^ Clinched overall win
 
NEXT UP
The Gaels are back in action once more this weekend as they host #3 Pepperdine tomorrow Saturday April 1 at 11 AM.