Women's Tennis | 1/28/2015 7:21:00 PM

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Jan. 28, 2015) – The Saint Francis U women's tennis team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday when it defeated Chicago State in a highly competitive match, 4-3. 
 
According to Red Flash head coachm Rob Castille, the victory was a step in the right direction after a 0-2 start which included a 5-2 setback at IPFW on Friday.
 
"I definitely was pleased with the improvements we showed this weekend compared with our match with Navy," said Castille. "I really stressed to the girls that they have to come out right from the start and have a lot of energy and compete hard from the first point to the last. I definitely felt they did this against both teams this weekend."
 
In Saturday's victory, Saint Francis got off to a suspect start by dropping the critical doubles point.  Playing down one for the weekend, the Red Flash was able to fight back in the match and clinch the win by claiming four of the five singles matches contested.
 
Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil), who held down the number two spot in both singles and doubles play, joined Shivani Patel (Leicestershire, England/Repton School) as one of two Flash players to win in both doubles and singles competition against Chicago State.  On the weekend, Panizza stood out for SFU by turning in a perfect 4-0 record.
 
Patel dropped just one of her for matches during the two-day swing – the number one singles competition against IPFW.
 
"IPFW is a strong team but I feel we can take a number of positives away from the match, even though we lost, said Castille.  "Against, Chicago State… this was a very even, competitive match. I was proud of how the girls fought which enabled us to pull out the win."
 
Saint Francis is back in action next Saturday when it is at St. Bonaventure.
 
 
 
IPFW (2-0) def. Saint Francis U (0-2), 5-2
 
Doubles
1. Mayu Sato/Marcy Huck (IPFW) def. Alex Sachs (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas)/Dani Gryckiewicz (SFU), 6-3
2. Shivani Patel (Leicestershire, England/Repton School)/Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) (IPFW) def. Ella Norgren/Emily Richardson (IPFW), 6-4
3. IPFW wins by default
 
Order of finish: 3, *1, 2
*Clinched doubles point
 
Singles
1. Mayu Sato (IPFW) def. Shivani Patel (Leicestershire, England/Repton School) (SFU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) (SFU) def. Alina Schibol (IPFW), 6-4, 6-4
3. Alex Sachs (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) (SFU) def. Carlota Trevino (IPFW), 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (5)
4. Sofia Sorokina (IPFW) def. Dani Gryckiewicz (SFU), 6-0, 6-2
5. Marcy Huck (IPFW) def. Camila Diaz (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Colegio La Piedad) (SFU), 7-5, 6-2
6. IPFW wins by default
 
Order of finish: 6, 4, *1, 2, 3, 5
*Clinched the match-winning 4th point
 
 
Saint Francis U (1-2) def. Chicago State (0-2), 4-3
 
Doubles
1. Marnie Perez-Ochoa/Hanna Pangestu (CSU) def. Alex Sachs (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas)/Dani Gryckiewicz (SFU), 6-1
2. Shivani Patel (Leicestershire, England/Repton School)/Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) (SFU) def. Carynne Lloyd/Faith Huckabee (CSU), 7-5
3. CSU wins by default
 
Order of finish: 3, *1, 2
*Clinched doubles point
 
Singles
1. Shivani Patel (Leicestershire, England/Repton School) (SFU) def. Carynne Lloyd (CSU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) (SFU) def. Hanna Pangestu (CSU), 6-1, 6-3
3. Alex Sachs (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) (SFU) def. Marnie Perez-Ochoa (CSU), 7-6(3), 4-1 (ret.)
4. Faith Huckabee (CSU) def. Dani Gryckiewicz (SFU), 6-2, 6-0
5. Camila Diaz (Carolina, Puerto Rico/Colegio La Piedad) (SFU) def. Matea Roki (CSU), 7-5, 4-3 (ret.)
6. CSU wins by default
 
Order of finish: 6, 5, 3, 2, 4, *1
*Clinched the match-winning 4th point