The Marquette women's tennis team failed to rise to the level of its competition last weekend and suffered losses to No. 44 Western Michigan, 7-0, and No. 42 Michigan, 7-0.

"We played well against tough teams," freshman Maria Calbeto said. "Some of us played really good matches, and we tried to step up our performance to their level of play."

According to head coach Jody Bronson, however, the girls are still not where they need to be at this point during the season.

"Some of the girls took a step forward in their performances this weekend," Bronson said. "We just hope they realized that and now will continue to build from it."

The Marquette squad, now 3-10 on the season, started Friday's match against Western Michigan by losing the doubles point. Sophomore Callan Smith and Calbeto were defeated by Maelynn Bernosky and Malena Remynse in No.1 doubles, 8-4. Sophomore Francina Bonnelly and freshman Elsemieke Dokter were beaten by Rattiya Hiranrat and Noriko Saruta, 8-1, at the No. 2 spot.

Sophomore Dominika Dabrowski and freshman Erin Watkins were knocked off by Western Michigan's Carrie Jeanmaire and Reedhina Parekh, 8-2, in No. 3 doubles.

In No. 1 singles action, Smith lost to Hiranrat, 6-4, 6-0. Calbeto lost to Jeanmaire in No. 2 singles, 6-4, 6-3 and Dokter was swept by Remynse at the No. 3 spot, 6-0, 6-0.

In No. 4 singles, Watkins put forth a strong effort in the first set but lost the match, 7-5, 6-0. At No. 5 singles, Bonnelly was knocked off by Pryanka Parekh, 6-2, 6-1 and Dabrowski was defeated by Saruta 6-1, 6-0 at No. 6 singles.

"We need to improve on our mental toughness," Bronson said. "We need to learn to leave the point behind and move on to the point we can control."

Saturday morning, the Golden Eagles took the court against Michigan. At No. 1 doubles, Smith and Calbeto fell to the No. 14 duo of Michelle DaCosta and Kara Delicata, 8-6.

"Callan and I played really well in our doubles match," Calbeto said. "We played smart and made good decisions."

Bronson was pleased with the pair's performance as well.

"I was very happy with Callan and Maria's match," she said. "They battled every match except one, and that mental lapse cost them the match."

The Golden Eagles were unable to capture any victories in the other doubles matches.

Erin Watkins was the only player to win a singles point for Marquette, defeating Allie Shafner, 7-6, 6-1, 1-0, at the No. 4 spot.

"Erin picked up her performance this weekend and showed the other girls what we have been trying to do all season," Bronson said.

"She was in every point, she was aggressive and had very few unforced errors."

Smith played No. 47 DaCosta at No. 1 singles and was beaten, 6-1, 6-1.

"The support the girls showed for each other was very good this weekend," Bronson said.

"But everyone is still not on the same page in singles. The most fundamental thing in tennis is to stay in and fight for every point, and that's the biggest thing holding us back."

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 15 2005.