FARGO, N.D. - Wrapping up their final conference match before their Florida trip, the University of Mary Women's Tennis team took on Minnesota State University early this morning in another close weekend contest.
 
The Marauders (2-5, 2-5 NSIC) got a furious comeback win from their number three doubles spot from Anastasia Bruss and Monica Benda, but any hopes for a revenge win from last year's match were dashed as the Mavericks (5-4, 4-3 NSIC) endured the close singles matchups for the 5-4 decision.
 
Sarah Janes and Meredith Holt got the call at the number one doubles spot and fell behind early to the Melissa Mashburn and Erin Streeter, but fought back with three straight points in a comeback effort at 7-4. Unfortunately, the Maverick pair would not be denied and took the match at 8-4, putting a stop to any hopes of another doubles sweep.
 
Eileen Leong and Catherine Gibbens turned in yet another impressive doubles performance at the number two spot against Killian Doran and Abby Schmidt, as the Marauder twosome continually improves with the hard-fought 8-5 decision to knot the team score at 1-1.
 
In similar fashion, Bruss and Benda teamed up for a solid performance at the number three spot against Lisa Dobbelaere and Kate Salinda as the Maverick duo built up a 6-3 lead late in the set. Bruss utilized her powerful serves while Benda anchored the front with unyielding play on the net to battle back for the tie at 8-8, forcing a tiebreaker.
 
Bruss and Benda complete the comeback attempt as they took the tiebreaker game at 7-3, clinching a 2-1 lead in favor of the Marauders heading into singles.
 
Alas, while the Mavericks were good in the doubles matchups, there appeared even better during the singles as the starting lineup featured heavy hitters from top to bottom. The top two singles for Minnesota State were well deserved spots and it was evident in the sets as Mashburn turned in a 6-0, 6-4 win over Janes in the top spot as the Marauder put up a valiant fight despite taking away a loss.
 
Streeter took on Gibbens at the number two spot and clinched the first set at 6-2, but Gibbens continued to make strides in her singles game as well to force a seventh point at 6-5, but couldn't find the winning combination as the Maverick held on for the 7-5 win in the second set. Gibbens did a tremendous job of refusing to back down as Streeter delivered hard hit after hit through each rally.
 
Holt took on Doran at the number three singles spot and the Marauder had a tall task of facing last year's number one singles performer for Minnesota State, but fell before another heavy hitter as the Maverick claimed the win at 6-1, 6-3 to put the team score at 4-2 in favor of Minnesota State.
 
Bruss took on Dobbelaere at the number four singles spot as the Marauder turned in another solid performance as she fought tooth-and-nail for every last point, but couldn't make a dent in the Mavericks' game as Dobbelaere took the win and clinched the team victory at 5-2.
 
Leong faced Schmidt at the number five spot and the U-Mary standout was seemingly untouchable through each set as she cruised to a lights-out win at 6-1, 6-1. Leong finished her weekend at a perfect 4-0 as she took both doubles and singles matchups against Southwest Minnesota State University and Minnesota State.
 
Shanna Stevenson got the call again at the number six singles spot and took on Nina Riesselman, and the Marauder settled down after her first start in the previous day with the final impressive performance on the day as she, too, cruised to a solid 6-1, 6-1 win over the Maverick to narrowly miss the team win at 5-4.
 
The Marauders will have a one day reprieve as they head for sunshine and warm weather down in Florida early this coming week, starting with a road match against Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., on March 1 starting at 1 PM CDT.
 
#marauders#