SPOKANE, Wash. - Saint Mary's took on Gonzaga Friday afternoon and after going down 2-0 dropping the doubles point and losing the first singles match, the Gaels clawed their way back to tie the match at two with wins from
Olivia Rook and
Juliette Daries. Rook would win handily, 6-1 6-1, while Daries won in gritty fashion, 7-5 6-4 in straight sets. The final two singles matches would be decided in extra sets but both went to the Zags as they held on for the 4-2 victory.
After dropping the first set 6-1,
Madison Weekley fought her way back and forced a third set with a 7-5 win in the second. Lia Espinal would fend off Weekley with a 6-4 win in the third set to give Gonzaga a 3-2 lead. Another closely contested match would ultimately decide the day as Gonzaga's Ella Nielsen won back-to-back sets to overcome an 0-1 hole and win the clinching match, 4-6 7-6 6-2.
MiaAngelina Ruja won the opener in their match, 6-4 in the first set, but the second set required a tiebreaker and the momentum would seem to swing towards Nielsen after winning the tiebreaker 7-4.
Full match results can be found below:
Gonzaga 4, Saint Mary's 2
Doubles
1. Emily Robertson/Ella Nielsen def.
Iman Khan/
MiaAngelina Ruja (SMC), 6-4
2. Rose Hayes/Lia Espinal vs.
Madison Weekley/
Tiana Fox (SMC), 5-4 (unfinished)
3. Norhan Hesham/Safien Boulonois def.
Stefanie Silva/
Juliette Daries (SMC), 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
1. Emily Robertson def.
Iman Khan (SMC), 6-0, 6-2
2.
Juliette Daries (SMC) def. Norhan Hesham, 7-5, 6-4
3. Ella Nielsen def.
MiaAngelina Ruja (SMC) 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2
4.
Olivia Rook (SMC) def. Rose Hayes, 6-1, 6-1
5. Safien Boulonois vs.
Stefanie Silva (SMC), 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-6 (6-4) (unfinished)
6. Lia Espinal def.
Madison Weekley (SMC), 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 2, 6, 3
Saint Mary's will continue conference play at Santa Clara on Thursday, April 3rd at 11:00 AM. Full match information and live scoring link can be found at smcgaels.com.
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