The Marquette women's tennis team dropped to 2-3 for the season with a 5-2 loss to Xavier Saturday morning at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium. Even though the Xavier squad has a perfect record this season, the Golden Eagles were not happy with their performance.

"It's disappointing because our team is better than their's," said sophomore Francina Bonnelly. "We did not play as well as we could have and we should have won that match. It feels like we've taken a step back in the season, but we'll pick up and learn from this."

Xavier took the doubles point with wins in the first and second positions. In No. 1 doubles sophomore Callan Smith and freshman Maria Calbeto were knocked off by Lauren Clary and Stephanie Bauer, 8-4.

In the second spot, Bonnelly and freshman Elsemieke Dokter were downed by Xavier's Kristen Clary and Annie Diedalis, 8-5.

Sophomore Dominika Dabrowski and freshman Erin Watkins were able to capture a win at No. 3 doubles, defeating the Musketeer's Kate Lohner and Jackie Vilines, 8-3.

"It's important to forget about the doubles point as soon as it's over," Smith said. "You have to start new when you play singles. Losing the point does bring more pressure to win, but it doesn't help to keep thinking about it."

"You need to play the same throughout the match no matter what happens in doubles," Bonnelly said.

After the missed opportunity to get ahead early, Marquette entered singles play behind, 0-1, and were only able to come away with wins in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots.

Smith was defeated by Lauren Clary in the No. 1 spot 6-4, 6-1 and in No. 2 singles Calbeto was knocked off by Kristen Clary 6-3, 6-3. Watkins extended her match to three sets but Bauer eventually won 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Dokter battled through three sets with her Musketeer opponent and took the singles point from Vilines 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Dabrowski re-entered the line-up and had a solid win at the No. 5 spot against Diedalis 7-5, 6-3.

Andrea Bukacek marked her first appearance of the spring season with a three-set loss against Xavier's Emily Tuchscherer, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the No. 6 spot.

As the season goes on, matches become closer and teams more competitive, the Golden Eagles are beginning to understand why Coach Jody Bronson stresses that every point is important.

"College tennis is extremely mental," Smith said. "Everyone playing at the college level has the skills so every point counts. It is important how you let each point mentally affect you."

The Golden Eagles will return to the courts Saturday when they take on Illinois State at 10 a.m. at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Feb. 8 2005.