FARGO, ND – Headlined by a win in doubles by Shanna Stevenson and Lisa Anderson, the University of Mary came up a just short against an Upper Iowa University squad fighting for second place in the Northern Sun.
 
Playing aggressively at the net, Stevenson and Anderson captured the #3 doubles match 8-4 over the Peacocks pair of Anna Okoloft and Breanna Heichert. Never trailing in the match, sharp shot placement and great teamwork helped the Marauders combo improve to 9-5 overall and 7-3 in the NSIC.
 
Strong serves and hard returns lifted the Peacocks top doubles team of Isabella Sella and Linn Sorman to an 8-2 win over Meredith Holt and Lucia Bolibruch. The Marauders top tandem managed a couple strong games to extend the match but could never turn the tide in their favor.
 
Eileen Leong and Anastasia Bruss started fast but couldn't hold an early lead in an 8-4 loss to Kelly Jachymowski and Shakhnaza Zhanatova in number two doubles. Strong approach shots kept the athletic Marauders away from the net and counteracted Bruss' power serves and Leong's cross court speed.
 
A tight match came down to the last two sets of the last two matches.
 
With the Upper Iowa clinging to a 4-3 lead heading into the final two matches, Leong took the court at #4 singles and Meredith Holt went out at #1 singles with an opportunity to steal the match from Peacocks with a pair of wins. 
 
After losing the first set in each of their matches, both Marauders fought back furiously. 
 
Leong battled out to a 4-3 lead in the second set by holding off Jachymowski in a series of long points. Events changed quickly, however, as Leong was unable to hold her serve late in 6-2, 6-4 loss.
 
Holt squared off against Sella, whose only loss of the season came when she was forced to retire due to injury, in #1 singles. After being blanked in the first set, Holt threw everything she had at her opponent to start the second set and clawed her way to a 2-2 tie. She pressed Sella in the remaining games but could not break through in a 6-0, 6-2 loss.
 
Cristina Bremar, a junior from Del Mar, CA, was consistent and focused throughout her match to win #6 singles 6-1, 6-3. Using an array of shots to keep her opponent guessing, her well-placed backhands, sharp passing shots and consistent serves allowed her to grab an early lead. She never trailed in either set.
 
At #3 singles, senior Anastasia Bruss powered her way to a decisive 7-5 first set win over Sorman in a close match. Sorman was forced to retire in the second set, giving the Marauders their second singles win.
 
A match at #2 singles between two of the hardest hitters in the NSIC, Bolibruch fell 6-3, 6-1 in an exciting and fast-paced match against Zhanatova.
 
Danielle Wolf suffered a 6-1, 6-1 straight set loss to Okolot in #6 singles.
 
The Marauders (4-11 overall, 2-8 NSIC) close out their season against Winona State on Sunday, April 9.
 
 
Upper Iowa 6  UMary 3 (Fargo, ND)
Doubles
Isabella Sella and Linn Sorman (UIU) def. Meredith Holt and Lucia Bolibruch, 8-2
Kelly Jachymowski and Shakhnaza Zhanatova (UIU) def. Eileen Leong and Anastasia Bruss, 8-3
Lisa Anderson and Shanna Stevenson def. Anna Okolot and Breanna Heichert (UIU), 8-4
 
Singles
Isabella Sella (UIU) def. Meredith Holt, 6-0, 6-3
Shakhnaza Zhanatova (UIU) def. Lucia Bolibruch, 6-3, 6-1
Anastasia Bruss def. Linn Sorman (UIU), 7-5, retired
Kelly Jachymowski (UIU) def. Eileen Leong, 6-2, 6-4
Anna Okolot (UIU) def. Danielle Wolf, 6-1, 6-1
Cristina Bremar def. Breanna Heichert (UIU), 6-1, 6-3
 
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