April 19, 2008

Results

Moraga, CA - The No. 49 Saint Mary's women's tennis team earned a spot in the West Coast Conference Championships, defeating San Francisco 4-0 in the semi-final. The Gaels will face No. 18 Pepperdine in the championship game at 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 20 at the Korth Tennis Complex.

The Gaels took care of business right from the start, capturing the doubles point and taking a 1-0 lead over San Francisco. Freshmen Alex Poorta and Claire Soper were the first team to finish their match, blanking their opponent 8-0 at the No. 3 position. This season the pair has totaled an impressive 13-3 doubles record together, including a 3-1 record against conference opponents.

The two spot captured the doubles point for the Gaels, as Marah Calvo and Stef Ordoveza defeated San Francisco's Jessy Mekpoh and Mylene Martin. The pair posted an easy win over the Dons, 8-2. The closest doubles match of the day came a the one position, where Jessica Hoath and Nienke Strijbis faced the Dons' Jenni Heinser and Sarah Oudomvilay. The Gaels were up 4-3 against the Dons, but the match was left unfinished because Saint Mary's had already clinched the doubles point.

In singles action many of the Gaels created an early advantage, as Alex Poorta, Claire Soper, Marah Calvo, and Stef Ordoveza each took a quick first set off their opponent. Soper was once again the first player to finish her match, posting a 6-3, 6-3 win over San Francisco's Taylor Emma. The match at the six spot was the next to end, with Ordoveza picking-up a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Oudomvilay. Needing only one more point, the Gaels' Calvo clinched the victory, topping her opponent 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 5 position.

The remaining three matches were left unfinished, as the Gaels recorded their second straight WCC tournament win, advancing them to the conference championship. Saint Mary's will take the court at 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 20, in the final WCC match of the day.