MONROEVILLE, Pa. – Despite a strong showing from the top of its lineup, the Saint Francis U women's tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision to Wright State Sunday at The Club Sport and Health in Monroeville.
 
After conceding a hotly contested doubles point, the Red Flash got back on track with wins by Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil), Shivani Patel (Leicestershire, England/Repton School) and Alex Sachs (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) at the Nos. 1 through 3 positions, respectively.  Both Sachs and Brittini Jentz (Plano, Texas/Ursuline Academy of Dallas) earned their victories in straight sets.
 
In doubles play, the SFU No. 2 tandem of Alex Sachs (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) and Brittini Jentz (Plano, Texas/Ursuline Academy of Dallas) pulled out a 6-3 win.
 
"This was a great effort from our girls. Wright State is a strong program and we battled with them until the end," said head coach Rob Castille.  "We had a number of chances in doubles to get the point and, unfortunately, we didn't.  That turned out to be the difference in the match.
 
"The women now have two weeks to work hard and prepare for two of the top teams in the conference, Bryant and Fairleigh Dickinson. We'll definitely continue to focus on doubles as well as a few things in singles and we'll be ready to play."
 
The Flash will get a chance to rest up with no competitions until at March 27 appointment at Fairleigh Dickinson.
 
 
 
Wright State (8-6) def. Saint Francis (3-8), 4-3

Doubles
1. Aby Madrigal/Karoline Haller (WSU) def. Panizza/Patel (SFU), 7-6 (5)
2. Sachs/Jentz (SFU) def. Vanessa Madrigal/Megan Brdicka (WSU), 6-3
3. Elaine Cloern/Abby Lewis (WSU) def. Jasso/Gryckiewicz (SFU), 6-2

Order of finish: 3, 2, *1
*Clinched the doubles point

Singles
1. Panizza (SFU) def. Vanessa Madrigal (WSU), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
2. Patel (SFU) def. Aby Madrigal (WSU), 0-6, 6-2, 6-1
3. Sachs (SFU) def. Tori Turner (WSU), 7-6 (4), 6-4
4. Karoline Haller (WSU) def. Jentz (SFU), 6-1, 6-3
5. Elaine Cloern (WSU) def. Gryckiewicz (SFU), 7-5, 6-4
6. Linsey Verstrepen (WSU) def. Jasso (SFU), 6-2, 6-2

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, *6
*Clinched the match-winning 4th point