TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The St. Mary's University Women's Tennis doubles team of Madalyn Smelley and Selina Wu went 2-1 at the inaugural ITA DII Individual and Doubles Championships.
 
"Selina and Maddy had a great tournament and finished strong," said Director of Tennis Bill Macom. "Their level of play definitely showed that they were capable of winning the entire thing. It's too bad the early rounds did not offer a full third set as the 10-point tiebreaks don't really allow for making tactical adjustments. However, being able to watch so many players compete this week from all regions, our team is certainly in a good position to have one of its best spring seasons ever."
 
The pair won their first match in the Round of 32 after waiting all day Wednesday through rainy weather, finally taking the courts around 6:30 p.m. Smelley, a senior from Ocean Springs, Miss., and Wu a senior from San Gabriel, Calif., defeated Smilte Bakye and Fernanda Sandoval from Augustana (SD) in the opening match, 6-1, 4-6, [10-8].
 
On Thursday in the Round of 16, the duo again went the distance, dropping the three-set match to fifth-seeded Natasha Sengphrachanh and Mischa Briggs from Grand Valley State, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, [6-10).
 
Moving to the North bracket, the pair took on Daniela Tijaro and Mariana Silva from Washburn in the North Quarterfinals, winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. The remainder of the consolation brackets were not concluded.
 
The remainder of the team is in San Marcos this weekend for the States Up Slam on the campus of Texas State.