By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The final score does not reflect how well the Dowagiac varsity tennis team played Monday afternoon against visiting St. Joseph.
The Lady Bears defeated the Chieftains 7-1 in the Big 16 Conference West Division opener for Dowagiac.
However, the Chieftains had a shot at winning three out of the four singles flights and battled up and down their line up.
Dowagiac's lone victory came at No. 1 singles where Lisa Rubino outlasted St. Joseph's Cathy Cline in a grueling three-set match which went to a tiebreaker.
Cline won the opening set 6-3, but Rubino rallied to take the second set 6-2.
Cline raced out to a 3-0 lead in the final set, however, Rubino stormed back to tie the match which eventually went to a tiebreaker.
Rubino won the tiebreaker 7-5 to earn the victory.
Dowagiac heads back into action on Wednesday when it travels to Niles for another Big 16 West Division match. Play is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
St. Joseph…7
Dowagiac…1
Singles
1. Lisa Rubino (D) d. Cathy Cline 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5); 2. Nikki Enriquez (SJ) d. Ann O'Keefe 6-0, 6-2; 3. Kathy Faris (SJ) d. Taylor Townsend 6-2, 4-6, 6-1; 4. Emily Carlson (SJ) d. Amelia First 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
1. Kylie Cheevers/Sophie Christain (SJ) d. Calie Daniels/Lindsay Tyler 6-0, 6-2; 2. Kelly Calkins/Nina Davuluri (SJ) d. Kim Rutkowski/Ashley Smith 6-3, 6-1; 3. Shannon Lukey/Jordan Edwards (SJ) d. Tonya Scherer/Shelly Urbanski 6-1, 6-1; 4. Brittany Danschoreder/Cassie Stein (SJ) d. Kate Duszynski/Kayleigh Sundman 6-1, 6-4
Varsity record: Dowagiac 3-1, 0-1 Big 16 West