EASTON, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's tennis team picked up its first victory of the season in a 6-1 road win at Lafayette on Saturday.  The Red Flash won the doubles point and claimed five of the six singles matches.  The Red Flash did not drop a set in singles action.  SFU is now 1-4 this spring.
 
The Red Flash won the crucial doubles point for the first time this season, with victories at the top two doubles spots.
 
At the top spot, freshman Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) and senior Dani Gryckiewicz (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Academy) matched up against Lafayette's Rocine Moschella and Caroline Nixon.  Playing their first match together this spring, the SFU pair earned a 6-3 win.
 
Junior Brittini Jentz (Plano, Texas/Ursuline Academy of Dallas) and freshman Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) paired up at No. 2 against the Leopards' Catherine Senopoulos and Ally Simels.  The Red Flash duo, in their first time playing together this spring, won 6-3 to clinch the point.
 
The Leopards won by default in the match at No. 3 due to no SFU player available.
 
At the top singles position, senior Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) competed against Lafayette's Nixon.  The Red Flash senior won a tight opening set, 7-5.  She came out on top again in the second set, winning 7-5, to pick up her first win of the spring.
 
Bode matched up against the Leopards' Moschella at No. 2.  The freshman claimed the first set, 6-2.  She completed the straight-set win with a 6-1 victory in the next set.  Bode is now 2-1 this spring.
 
At the third singles position, Jentz took on Senopoulos.  The SFU junior won a tough opening set, 7-5.  She kept her momentum going into the second set, winning 6-3.  She is now 2-0 in dual matches.
 
The senior, Gryckiewicz, claimed her opening set, 6-1, against Lafayette's Simels.  In the next set, Gryckiewicz dominated 6-0 to complete the sweep and earn her first win of the spring.
 
Miller competed at No. 5 against Megan Reiling.  The freshman took the opening set, 6-2. She then completed the straight-set victory with a 6-1 win in the second set to pick up her first dual match win.
 
Lafayette won the point at No. 6 by default due to no SFU player available.
 
"I was happy to see the girls focused and intense and pick up our first win," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "This was the first match of the year for Lafayette.  I know they would be fired up to get the spring started.  We still need to work on doubles and some of us are still playing too tentatively at times, but this was a good match against a good team. We've only played one match with our full lineups, so I hope we can get everyone healthy soon and compete with all six girls. We'll put this behind us to get ready for a very solid Lehigh team tomorrow."
 
The Red Flash visits Lehigh on Sunday for a 10 a.m. match.  The Mountain Hawks are 0-2 this season after falling 5-2 against Drexel on Saturday.
 
Doubles:
1. Bode/Gryckiewicz(SFU) def. Moschella/Nixon(LC), 6-3.
2. Jentz/Miller(SFU) def. Senopoulos/Simels(LC), 6-3.
3. Lafayette wins by default (No SFU player).
Order of Finish: 3,1,2
 
Singles:
1. Panizza(SFU) def. Nixon(LC), 7-5, 7-5.
2. Bode(SFU) def. Moschella(LC), 6-2, 6-1.
3. Jentz(SFU) def. Senopoulos(LC), 7-5, 6-3.
4. Gryckiewicz(SFU) def. Simels(LC), 6-1, 6-0.
5. Miller(SFU) def. Reiling(LC), 6-2, 6-1.
6. Lafayette wins by default (No SFU player).
Order of Finish: 6, 2,5,1,4,3