FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) -- Marian University women's tennis hosted Edgewood College and Mount Mary College on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Sabres dropped the pair, falling to 1-8 on the season and 0-5 in NACC play.
It was a slow start for the young Sabres taking on the well-balanced Eagles. Melissa Spannbauer and Samantha Austin were first up for the Sabres facing Morgan Wilson and Anna Miles. Despite falling 8-1, the two were the most successful pair of doubles as the Sabres fell 8-0 in the next two matches and were quickly down 3-0.
Singles play was much of the same for the Sabres as the Eagles were overpowering on the court. Melissa Spannbauer and Chelsea Schoenick showed a spark of success for the Sabres but each fell 6-2, 6-1. Laura Olson and Molly Pratz were two key pieces to the Eagles success only losing one set on the day as the number three and four singles players. The Eagles won all six matches ending the day with a 9-0 victory.
The Sabres stepped up their game in their second match of the day versus Mount Mary, yet still fell short, 6-3. Spannbauer and Austin started doubles strong against Andrea Monacelli and Ana Mercado of the Blue Angels. The match was tight, but went in favor of the Blue Angels, 8-6.
The Blue Angels took the next doubles match 8-3, but dropped the third due to a lack of players. With a 2-1 lead going into singles play, Mount Mary turned on the jets, winning the first four matches to extend their lead.
The Sabres didn't give up though, as Schoenick came out with a star performance against Sydney Dahlstrom. After winning the first set 6-3, Schoenick took the second set, 8-6, while outlasting Dahlstrom in a tie-breaker victory.
After improving the match 6-2, the Sabres took the last set default to make the final score 6-3 resulting in a Blue Angel match win improving them to 3-1. The Sabres will look to bounce back in a conference match-up against MSOE on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Buttermilk Creek Park in Fond du Lac.
