NEWARK, N.J. (March 26, 2011) – The Saint Francis women's tennis team dropped a pair of Garden State matchups on Saturday in its non-conference finale. The Red Flash fell, 5-0, to both Hartford and NJIT at NJIT's Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreational Facility.

“The women came back strong in the second match against Hartford,” said head coach Paul Tobin. “The scores were closer and I was impressed with the way they were working the ball. We are still a long way off from where I would like to be but I am pleased with the way my players are performing this far in the season.”

“Right now I want them to just go back to simple basics and focus on extending rallies.”

Alex Foti, despite recording a loss, provided the highlight of the competition with NJIT. After dropping the first set at No. 2 singles, Foti was able to able to even things up with a 6-3 win in the second. The Highlanders' Jana Luste stole the tie-breaker 10-7.

“Alex is playing her best tennis this year,” said Tobin. “She had two match points but could not close out the match. Scores this close can go either way.”

Saint Francis battled to closer scores from top to bottom against Hartford, but still came up short.


NJIT 5, Saint Francis 0
Doubles
1. Ksenia Kuzmenko/Hannelore MacDonald (NJIT) def. Devynn Sarver (Mt. Clemens, Mich./Fraser)/Alex Foty (Oakville, Ontario/Niagara Academy of Tennis) (SFU) 8-1
2. Ana Lidon/Monika Graff (NJIT) def. Laura Husband (Dawson, Pa./Connellsville Area)/Maya Ranchod (Ellwood City, Pa./Lincoln ) (SFU) 8-0
3. Martina Tripcovici/Megan Guidry (NJIT) def. Abigail Derby/Jennifer Mueller (SFU) 8-0

Singles
1. Nina Mayevska (NJIT) def. Devynn Sarver (Mt. Clemens, Mich./Fraser) (SFU) 6-4, 6-0
2. Jana Luste (NJIT) def. Alex Foty (Oakville, Ontario/Niagara Academy of Tennis) (SFU) 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
3. Ana Lidon (NJIT) def. Laura Husband (Dawson, Pa./Connellsville Area) (SFU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Martina Tripcovici (NJIT) def. Maya Ranchod (Ellwood City, Pa./Lincoln ) (SFU) 6-0, 6-0


Hartford 5, Saint Francis 0
Doubles
1. Gileau/Willhift (UH) def. Mueller/Derby (SFU) 8-3

Singles
1. Zampar (UH) def. Sarver (SFU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Sabitino (UH) def. Foty (SFU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Haynal (UH) def. Husband (SFU) 6-2, 7-5
4. Lennon (UH) def. Ranchod (SFU) 7-5, 7-5