WAGNER BOX  |  QUINNIPIAC BOX

WEST WINDSOR, N.J. (April 15, 2011) – The Red Flash women's tennis team split a pair of 4-0 decision on Friday to wrap up their first season under head coach Paul Tobin at the Northeast Conference Championships. Saint Francis started the day off with a solid win over ninth-seeded Wagner, only to draw the league's top seed, Quinnipiac, in the day cap.

“The women needed this win,” said Tobin. “It was a long season with a lot of challenges and it was good to see a first round win at our conference championships.”

Saint Francis started out against Wagner by taking the doubles point with wins at the Nos. 1 and 2 spots. Devynn Sarver (Mt. Clemens, Mich./Fraser) and Alex Foty (Oakville, Ontario/Niagara Academy of Tennis) earned a convincing 8-2 victory, while Laura Husband (Dawson, Pa./Connellsville Area) and Beza Dejene (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia/Lycee Franco-Ethiopien Guebre Mariam) notched an 8-1 win.

“Taking the doubles point put us in a strong position going into singles,” said Tobin. “At that point we only needed to pick up three singles points to win our first round match. I am happy to see the women are working much better as doubles teams, they are not only working the ball better, but closing points at the net.”

Jennifer Mueller won No. 6 singles by default and the other two decisions came by comfortable margins. Sarver took the No. 1 position 6-0, 6-0 and Foty won the No. 2 spot, 6-0, 6-1. In unfinished matches, Husband and Dejene were also seemingly on their way to victory before SFu clinched the win.

Unfortunately for the Red Flash, the shoe was on the other foot when they faced touted Quinnipiac. The league's top seed quickly turned aside Saint Francis, 4-0.

Despite the setback, Tobin was justifiably proud of his team's accomplishments over the season.

“Sometimes it's not all about winning and losing,” he said. “The women came out here today ready to compete and held their heads high. We knew what we were up against and had to dig deep if we were going to pick up any wins.”

The Flash wrap up their season with a 4-15 mark, include a 2-2 NEC record.