MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's ended a four-match skid last week with a non-conference win over Grand Canyon but were looking for their first conference victory since their opener against Pacific on March 22nd. They would hold a 3-2 lead with two singles matches left but fell in dramatic fashion as LMU snagged the final two duals to escape with the 4-3 road win. 

The Gaels got off to a great start with their doubles matches, getting wins from Juliette Daries/Stefanie Silva and Iman Khan/Olivia Rook. Khan and Rook clinched the point, winning the tiebreaker 7-3 to give Saint Mary's momentum heading into their six duals. 

LMU would have to go the long way to pull out the match victory and they got things started with straight set wins from Camilia Samel Druz and Stefania Rogozinska-Dzik. Juliette Daries finished 2-0 on the day after securing her singles win in straight sets, 6-3 6-1, and Madison Weekley won her dual after Isabella Tcherkes-Zade retired down five games to four in the second set.   

The match would come down to MiaAngelina Ruja as both teams gathered around to root on their teammates on the center court. Ruja dropped the first set narrowly 7-6 and then battled from behind in the second to even the set at four. As the momentum started to swing, LMU's Fiona Arrese would retake control of the match and go on to win the next two games to seal the dual win, 7-6 6-4, and the match for the Lions 4-3. 

LOOKING AHEAD

Saint Mary's will wrap up conference play at home on Saturday, April 19th and host Pepperdine on the team's Senior Day starting at 11:00 AM. Live results can be found at smcgaels.com. 

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