Rachel Wright pulled out a win at No. 5 singles (6-2, 4-6, 10-5) after going into a tiebreaker instead of a third set to solidify the St. Thomas women’s tennis team’s 8-1 victory over St. Mary’s Saturday at the University of Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center.

The Tommies swept all three doubles matches and moved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the MIAC with the victory.

Brittany Alexander won both her singles (6-2, 6-0) and doubles (8-0) matches, contributing two points to the Tommies’ performance.

“With the MIAC matches, it gets easy to fall into a routine of just playing tennis,” Alexander said. “I think the key is staying focused, staying true to your strengths and the shots when they’re there and playing smart.”

While Mary Allen was unable to play her singles match due to an illness, coach Terry Peck was still confident in the rest of his lineup and strong doubles teams. Allen did play in her doubles match.

“We had a few players with a little bit of a viral concern, but they managed to get it together pretty quick by the third game,” Peck said. “We do what we really do best, and that’s play some of the best doubles in the Midwest.”

The Tommies dropped a point at No. 3 singles due to an injury default.

The women’s doubles teams kept their strong status winning at No. 1 (8-4), No. 2 (8-4) and No. 3 (8-0).

Shelby Henderson won her singles match (6-1, 6-0). Bridget Noack posted a win at No. 2 singles (6-3, 6-0) and Elizabeth Ternent won at No. 6 singles (6-1, 6-3).

The women’s team plays next against Converse College (S.C.) March 24 in Hilton Head, S.C.

Men’s tennis posts another strong win

Brendan O’Connell won at No. 1 singles (6-1, 6-1) and at No. 2 doubles (8-6) to help lift the St. Thomas men’s tennis team past St. Mary’s 8-1 at the University of Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center Saturday.

The men’s doubles teams earned three points at No. 1 doubles (8-4), No. 2 doubles (8-6) and at No. 3 doubles (8-5).

Mitchell Blackey battled through his match and won at No. 3 singles (6-2, 7-5). No. 4 singles player Brady Radermacher also came out on top (6-3, 3-6, 11-9). At No. 5 singles, Allen-Michael Muench finished with a (4-6, 4-6) defeat.

“I moved well. I didn’t miss a lot of first serves, and I made him miss,” O’Connell said discussing his singles win. “As a team, we’re playing great doubles. We start slow, but we finish strong.”

Brian McCarthy won both his matches at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles (7-5, 7-6, 7-5) and (8-4), respectively.

“We were down on all three courts and then proceeded to win on all three courts,” Peck said. “The men played very solid, strong doubles. I have some very naturally gifted doubles players.”

Next up for the men’s team is a match against Bethune Cookman (Fla.) March 24 in Hilton Head, S.C.

Anne Becken can be reached at beck9626@stthomas.edu.