Saint Mary’s College tennis began its fall season at the Hope College 2025 Fall Invitational in Holland, Michigan this past Friday and Saturday. The invitational was bracket-style, with players competing against competitors from various schools.
Doubles
The Belles notched four wins in doubles play. In the B doubles draw, senior Evelyn Demblans-Dechans and junior Sophia Pischalko secured 6-4 wins over Emma Smith and Felicity Kolb of John Carroll University before they moved to the quarterfinals and took a second 6-4 win over Madison Wei and Mallory Matthews of Hope College.
In the A draw, senior Emma Kealy and sophomore Shannon Dudy defeated Addison Lyons and Daryn Krause of Kalamazoo College 6-2, but fell 2-6 in the quarterfinals. In the C draw, the Belles earned their fourth doubles win, as freshman Mia Graziano and sophomore Odessa Norton prevailed over Rachel Grissom and Alex Vermeulen of Calvin College 7-5.
Singles
Saint Mary’s totaled 14 wins in singles play, beginning in the C singles draw, where Demblans-Dechans secured wins over Molly Stevison of Kalamazoo College and Julia Hooker of Calvin College, 8-3 and 8-4, respectively. In the D singles draw, Pischalko notched an 8-5 win over Soussana Kimbouris of Kalamazoo College, followed up in the third round by an 8-4 win over Rachel Grissom of Calvin College. Also at D singles, sophomore Lanie Brant gathered wins over Madelyn Dell of Spring Arbor University and Ava Hovey of Adrian College, 8-6 and 8-2.
In the B draw, two Belles earned wins, as junior Anna Gardner earned a tough win over Maya Lee of Kalamazoo College 8-7 (7-5) and Dudy secured wins over Calvin College’s Ryan Morey and Roosevelt University’s Milena Novikova, 8-6 and 8-7 (7-5), respectively.
At E singles, Graziano notched a dominant win over Ava Hauser of Adrian College, 8-0. Also in the E draw, Norton earned an 8-2 win over Kaitlyn Schmitt of Spring Arbor and an 8-2 win over Sophia Wallstrom of Spring Arbor.
Finally, in the F draw, freshman Maria Manzella recorded a commanding 8-0 win over Julianne Hindman of Ohio Northern. Additionally, freshman Raelynn Pickup prevailed in a nail-biting match over Alivia Mott of Spring Arbor, 8-7 (7-2).
The Belles have an extended break before they head to Anderson, Indiana on Oct. 10, where they will take on both Indiana University East and Anderson University in a double dual match.
