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Felicity Delgado
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Felicity Delgado (File Photo)

Women's Tennis RattlerAthletics.com

Rattlers fall to No. 3 BYU-Hawaii in NCAA Championship Quarterfinal

By Chad Peters | St. Mary's Athletics Communications

SURPRISE, Ariz. — No matter how you slice it, St. Mary's Women's Tennis made a name for itself as one of the premier programs in the country at the NCAA Division II Championships.
 
That became clear even in defeat at Thursday's championship quarterfinals, where No. 13-ranked St. Mary's — sparked by its trademark terrific doubles play — challenged No. 3 BYU-Hawaii in a 5-1 loss at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex.
 
The difference from last year to this was stark in St. Mary's head coach Lisa Dausin's mind — particularly in terms of how others perceived her Rattler squad at the national tournament. 
 
"Last year, we 'made it' to nationals," said Dausin, whose squad trumped last year's Round of 16 appearance by making their first-ever NCAA Elite Eight appearance this season. "It felt as if only we knew we were there last year.
 
"This year, it was really great to hear we became a hot topic of conversation at the tournament."
 
The Rattlers' work in doubles was among the hottest of those topics. Going up against a doubles squad that is as good as it gets, the Rattlers almost matched BYU-Hawaii point for point.
 
BYU-Hawaii (32-1) boasted the nation's No. 2 and 23-ranked doubles teams, while the Rattlers (21-2) themselves came in with the No. 7 doubles team in Mariana Rong and Cristina Lopez, and the No. 21 team in tandem Jamie Lee Denton and Kaylin Kruseman.
 
So with all eyes on the No. 1 and 2 courts, it was naturally the No. 3 action that stole the show early. Felicity Delgado and Kerry Wiegand overcame a 6-1 deficit to tie up the match at 6-6 in huge swing of events. But perhaps worn out from the massive comeback, the Rattler duo would end up falling to Kanela Adamson and Jade Griffin by the score of 8-6.
 
The play on the rest of the court didn't disappoint either, with No. 21 duo Denton and Kruseman outlasting No. 22 Jin Jin Han and Maietta Tuionetoa 8-6 to even up the overall score at 1-1.
 
It left all eyes on Court 1, where the winner would provide their team with the pivotal 2-1 overall lead heading into singles. Rong and Lopez looked poised to pull off the upset, leading the nation's second-ranked squad 4-1 early and 7-6 later. But Min Liu and Nannan Zhang battled back valiantly to earn the 9-7 victory — and the all-important 2-1 overall lead.  
 
"I was really proud that the girls showed up and played 'Rattler doubles,'" Dausin said. The girls had little if any nerves, stayed with what worked for them all season and went for their shots."
 
BYU-Hawaii would go on to close the door in singles, winning all three matches that went final. No. 1-ranked Zhang defeated No. 31 Rong 6-2, 6-3 in No. 1 singles, while No. 7 Marietta Tuionetoa defeated Jamie Lee Denton 6-1, 6-1 in No. 3. Joanie Bryant also fell 6-3, 6-2 to Kanela Adamson in No. 6 action. Tyra Timm was ahead in No. 5 6-3, 2-5, while Kaylin Kruseman also earned a first-set victory in No. 4 singles before the match was called. Kruseman was up on Jade Griffin 6-4, 4-5 at the stoppage. No. 43 Cristina Lopez trailed No. 6 Min Liu 6-1, 5-2.
 
The loss snapped a 20-match winning streak for St. Mary's, was made its third-ever national-tournament appearance in women's tennis. Prior to the two straight appearances under Dausin, the Rattlers' last nationals trip came in the 1983-84 season as a member of the NAIA. 
 
"It was great for them to see how little difference the distance is between the No. 1 seed and our team," Dausin said. "They showed tons of maturity throughout the lineup. It was a great team effort.
 
"I believe the St. Mary's community would be extremely proud of their never-quit fight."
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Players Mentioned

Joanie Bryant

Joanie Bryant

5' 6"
Junior
Felicity Delgado

Felicity Delgado

5' 2"
Senior
Jamie Lee Denton

Jamie Lee Denton

5' 8"
Junior
Cristina Lopez

Cristina Lopez

5' 1"
Junior
Mariana Rong

Mariana Rong

5' 10"
Senior
Kaylin Kruseman

Kaylin Kruseman

5' 4"
Freshman
Kerry Wiegand

Kerry Wiegand

5' 8"
Junior
Tyra Timm

Tyra Timm

5' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Joanie Bryant

Joanie Bryant

5' 6"
Junior
Felicity Delgado

Felicity Delgado

5' 2"
Senior
Jamie Lee Denton

Jamie Lee Denton

5' 8"
Junior
Cristina Lopez

Cristina Lopez

5' 1"
Junior
Mariana Rong

Mariana Rong

5' 10"
Senior
Kaylin Kruseman

Kaylin Kruseman

5' 4"
Freshman
Kerry Wiegand

Kerry Wiegand

5' 8"
Junior
Tyra Timm

Tyra Timm

5' 3"
Freshman

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