WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Saint Francis women's tennis team fell 4-2 at Howard on Friday in the opener for the spring season.  After dropping a tight doubles point, the Red Flash earned two singles wins and were very close to clinching a third.
 
At the top doubles position, senior Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) and junior Brittany Plaszewski (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) competed against Howard's Jessica Josiah and Stacey Roheman.  In a tough battle, Panizza and Plaszewski fell 7-6(5).
 
Senior Dani Gryckiewicz (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Academy) and freshman Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) paired up against the Bison's Nichole Hutchinson and Kindha Nasef, but dropped a tight 7-6(5) set.
 
The Bison won the match at the third spot by default.
 
"I thought we came out in doubles and played pretty tentative and tight," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "With the new format (set to 6 games for doubles), we can't afford to start out like that. With us being down a player, I knew the doubles point would be important. It turned out to be the difference in the match, but I was happy with how the girls responded and fought in singles. Overall, we played much better and almost pulled out the win. Credit to Howard who played a great match. We'll take some good things away from today and are looking forward to our match tomorrow with Navy."
 
At the second singles position, freshman Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) matched up against Josiah.  After dropping the opening set, 7-6(5), Bode bounced back to win the second set, 6-2.  In a tight deciding set, Bode came out on top in the super-tiebreaker, winning 10-7.  She improved to 5-1 overall this year.
 
Plaszewski competed at the No. 3 spot against Howard's Hutchinson.  The junior took the first set, 6-3.  In a tough second set, Plaszewski battled to win 7-6, including 8-6 in the tiebreaker. She moved to 4-1 on the year.
 
At the fifth singles spot, Gryckiewicz took on the Bison's Sajela Harlow.  The Red Flash senior won the first set, 6-3.  She was also leading the second set, 5-1, and serving for match point, when the match was stopped after Howard clinched the overall match point.
 
In the match at the top singles position, Panizza faced Roheman, but fell 6-3, 6-1.  SFU's Miller competed at the fourth position, but dropped a 7-6(6), 6-3 result against Howard's Nasef.
 
The Bison won the point at the sixth spot by default. 
 
The Red Flash will look to bounce back on Saturday as it takes on Navy in a 2 p.m. match.  The Midshipmen are 0-1.
 
Doubles:
1. Josiah/Roheman(Howard) def. Panizza/Plaszewski(SFU), 7-6(5).
2. Hutchinson/Nasef(Howard) def. Grykiewicz/Miller(SFU), 7-6(5).
3. Harlow/Joynes(Howard), win by default (No SFU player).
Order of Finish: 3,1,2
 
Singles:
1. Roheman(Howard) def. Panizza(SFU), 6-3, 6-1.
2. Bode(SFU) def. Josiah(Howard), 6-7(5), 6-2, 1-0(7).
3. Plaszewski(SFU) def. Hutchinson(Howard), 6-3, 7-6(4).
4. Nasef(Howard) def. Miller(SFU), 7-6(6), 6-3.
5. Gryckiewicz(SFU) vs. Harlow(Howard), 6-3, 5-1, unfinished.
6. Joynes(Howard), win by default.
Order of Finish: 6,1,2,3,4