PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (April 2, 2012) – The Saint Francis U. women's tennis team split a pair of non-conference matches on Sunday, downing Coppin State 5-1 before falling to Villanova by a 6-1 margin. 

The Red Flash made quick work of the Eagles in a match played at La Salle, winning the abbreviated competition by a 5-1 mark.  The lone SFU setback came at no. 1 singles when Devynn Sarver (Mt. Clemens, Mich./Fraser) had to retire in order to for the team make it the Villanova match in time.

“Devynn was on her way to picking up the sixth win at no. 1, already taking the first set 6-4 and up 2-0 in the second,” said head coach Paul Tobin.  “The match was stopped because we had to head to Villanova to start our match.”

The nos. 2-6 matches were a different story.

Nuria Valls (Durango, Mexico/Colegio Guadiana LaSalle), Shivani Patel (Leicestershire, England/Repton School), Lucy Jasso (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Instituto Potosino), Alex Sachs (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) and Laura Husband (Dawson, Pa./Connellsville Area) all won their competitions in straight sets.  In fact, every player but Valls at the no. 2 position recorded 6-0, 6-0 decisions.

“Strong wins across the board from a much-improved Coppin team,” said Tobin.  “We took all five singles clinching the win without having to play doubles.”

Despite taking a 6-1 loss to Villanova later in the day, the contest wasn't without its highlights.

Sachs and Jasso pulled out a win at no.1 doubles and Sach also earned a, 7-5, 6-0, victory at the no. 5 position in singles play.  Patel and Jasso pushed their Wildcat counterparts to the brink at the nos. 3 and 4 spots, but fell in tiebreakers.

“This should have been a 4-3 loss,” explained Tobin.  “Shivani and Lucy are proving they can go the distance, but have difficulties pulling out third set tie-breakers. Had we have clinched those wins, we would have had an amazing team score against a tough Villanova team.”

“'Great job' to Alex who picked up a great win at no. 5.”