NIAGARA, N.Y. (Jan. 26, 2013) – The Saint Francis Women's tennis team pulled out a huge upset over the Niagara Eagles picking up a 5-2 win at the Sportsplex Tennis Center on Saturday. This is Red Flash first win over the Eagles since they started competing in 1996. The Niagara women are coming off a strong 2012 season and showing at the ITA Regionals.

SFU came out strong picking up the doubles point sweeping no. 2 and no. 3 positions. Saint Francis' Danielle Gryckiewicz (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Academy) and Camila Diaz (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Colegio La Piedad) picked up a decisive 8-3 win over Niagara sophomores Jenna McCune and Ashley Ta.

At no. 2 doubles, Alex Sachs (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) and Shivani Patel (Leicestershire, England/Repton School) kept things interesting. Up 7-4 and serving for the match, Patel got broken and allowed the Eagles to come back to a 7-7 tiebreaker. SFU was able to go up two breaks and hold to close it out 7-4.

“Great doubles from the nos. 2 and 3 spots,” said Flash coach Paul Tobin. “We are dominating at the net and putting the pressure on our opponents. Not to happy that two doubles almost blew a 7-4 lead, but they closed it out and we got the necessary point. I expect more from no. 1 doubles; they are not executing aggressive transitioning and net play, allowing their opponents to control the court.”

When SFU returned for singles it swept four singles points and the win. Sachs provided the clutch win when she beat Niagara sophomore Maria Ortiz 7-5, 7-6. Sachs found herself up 4-1 in the second, but gave up two serving opportunities to tie at 6-6. Sachs managed to edge out Ortiz, 7-5 in the tiebreaker.

“Alex did a great job closing out the match and clinching the win for the team,” said Tobin. “She was injured all fall due a broken foot and this win was very important for her confidence moving forward.”

Patel competing at no. 2 singles pulled out a third set win over sophomore Ashley Ta 6-3, 3-6, 6-0. After taking the first set easily in which Patel managed to break three times. Ta fought back in the second allowing only eight unforced errors compared to 19 for Patel. Patel came back in the third set maintaining a high 72% first serve percentage and seven unforced errors working her way to a 6-0 win.

Lucy Jasso (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Instituto Potosino), playing at no. 2 singles for the Red Flash, pulled out a strong win over Eagles sophomore Iva Celan 6-1, 6-1. Jasso went 14 games without being broken and took 21 winners to take the singles point.

The last point came from Diaz, who sat out last season, playing in the no. 6 spot. Diaz easily took down Niagara's Viki Sardellitti 6-3, 6-0. Diaz forced her opponent to commit 27 errors and was able to break all her return opportunities.

Gryckiewicz already down 5-1 in the first against Eagles freshman Sarah Hellstem fought back and took the next four games to tie at 5-5. Gryckiewicz unable to break couldn't gain momentum on her serve before losing 7-5.

“This was a very important win for the women,” said Tobin. “It shows them that they are prepared to win not only compete well. I told them after the match not to be surprised by winning. It came because they worked hard developing themselves in practice. The key is keeping it together for all our matches.”

The Red Flash women have no time to rest, taking on Saint Bonaventure Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.