AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's women's tennis team fell to top-seeded St. Mary's in the semifinals of the Heartland Conference Tournament Friday morning. The Hilltoppers came into the tournament as the number four seed in the tourney.
 
In doubles action, the team of BROOKE HUGHES and SASHA KHADZHYAN had an early lead but Mariana Rong and Cristina Lopez rebounded and took the match at the number one singles position, 8-3. The other two Hilltopper doubles line dropped their matches as well, as St. Edward's entered singles play down 3-0.
 
In the singles portion, RAFAELA HAEGELE and FRANCESCA CHAHER fought hard in their first sets, but both dropped them, 7-5.  St. Mary's got wins from Ariana Saldana over Breanna Hesseltine at the number five spot and Joanie Bryant over TATIANA MARCHIZANO at the number six position to clinch the match, 5-0.
 
"We were really fired up with the opportunity to play conference rival St. Mary's again today," head coach Kendall Brooks said. "We were prepared and came out with great energy, knowing that each match could be our last. Unfortunately, we couldn't put solid games together and let too many chances to close out points and games slip away. I'm proud of the way the team fought all season, despite being plagued with injuries. They played hard as a team and I look forward to getting back to work to prepare for next season."
 
St. Edward's ends its season with an 8-11 record and a tie for third in the Heartland Conference Tournament. They are currently ranked seventh in the region.
 
St. Edward's vs St. Mary's
Apr 25, 2014 at San Antonio, Texas
(Rohrbach Stadium Tennis Complex)
 #19 St. Mary's 5, St. Edward's 0
Singles competition
1. Mariana Rong (STMUWT) vs. SASHA KHADZHYAN (SEUWT) 6-3, 5-0, unfinished
2. Cristina Lopez (STMUWT) vs. RAFAELA HAEGELE (SEUWT) 7-5, unfinished
3. Jamie Lee Denton (STMUWT) vs. FRANCESCA CHAHER (SEUWT) 7-5, 1-0, unfinished
4. Felicity Delgado (STMUWT) vs. SUMMER BIGGS (SEUWT) 6-2, 2-1, unfinished
5. Ariana Saldana (STMUWT) def. BREANNE HESSELTINE (SEUWT) 6-0, 6-1
6. Joanie Bryant (STMUWT) def. TATIANA MARCHIZANO (SEUWT) 6-1, 6-0
 Doubles competition
1. Mariana Rong/Cristina Lopez (STMUWT) def. BROOKE HUGHES/SASHA KHADZHYAN (SEUWT) 8-3
2. Felicity Delgado/Jamie Lee Denton (STMUWT) def. RAFAELA HAEGELE/FRANCESCA CHAHER (SEUWT) 8-4
3. Ariana Saldana/Joanie Bryant (STMUWT) def. SUMMER BIGGS/BREANNE HESSELTINE (SEUWT) 8-3
Match Notes:
St. Edward's 8-11; Regional ranking #7
St. Mary's 14-4; National ranking #19; Regional ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,5)
Official: Garza, Garza, Cannon T-2:09 A-45