MONROEVILLE, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's tennis team fell 6-1 against St. Bonaventure on Sunday at The Club Sport and Health on Monroeville.  The Red Flash won a doubles match and a singles match.  SFU is now 3-9 this season, while the Bonnies improved to 3-10.
 
Senior Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) and junior Brittany Plaszewski (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) matched up at No. 1 against Gabriella Bowe and Mara Martinez-Santori.  The Red Flash duo earned a tough 7-5 win.  It was their fourth win this season at No. 1.
 
At No. 2, freshman Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) and senior Dani Gryckiewicz (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Academy) compete against Lauren Doversola and Mariam Skhirtladze. The SFU pair fell 7-6 in a tough battle, including 7-4 in the tiebreaker.
 
St. Bonaventure won the match at No. 3 by default due to no SFU player available.

"St. Bonaventure competed better than we did today," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "I thought we had a good opportunity to take the doubles point and we didn't take advantage of the chances we had. We needed to play with more courage and confidence when it came to the big points.  We have to be more aggressive in those situations."
 
Freshman Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) faced the Bonnies' Dominique Mortier at the No. 4 singles position.  The SFU rookie claimed the first set, 6-1.  Miller completed the straight-set victory with a 6-4 win in the second set.  Miller earned her third win this season.
 
Panizza took on Martinez-Santori at the top singles spot.  The Red Flash senior fell 6-3, 6-3. 
 
At No. 2, Plaszewski battled SBU's Bowe.  The SFU junior dropped the first set, 6-3, but bounced back to win the second set, 6-2.  In the deciding set, Bowe won 6-0. 
 
Bode matched up at No. 3 against Skhirtladze.  The Saint Francis freshman dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision.
 
At No. 5, Gryckiewicz competed against the Bonnies' Doversola.  The SFU senior fell 6-4 in the first set, but responded by winning a 6-4 set of her own in the second frame.  In the super-tiebreaker third set, Gryckiewicz fell 10-7.
 
St. Bonaventure won the match at No. 6 by default due to no SFU player available.

"In singles, I was pleased with how Steph and Dani competed today," said Castille. "They fought hard and battled from the first point to the last.  I know we can be better at the top three spots. They need to believe in themselves and stay positive when dealing with adversity.  They need to battle harder.  We have the talent and I believe we can be a great team. We'll evaluate some things in the next two weeks and work to make some corrections before we face Duquesne."
 
The Red Flash returns to action on Friday, March 25 against Duquesne.  The match starts at 9 a.m. at Alpha Tennis and Fitness in Harmar, Pa.
 
Doubles:
1. Panizza/Plaszewski(SFU) def. Bowe/Martinez-Santori(SBU), 7-5.
2. Doversola/Skhirtladze(SBU) def. Bode/Gryckiewicz(SFU), 7-6(4).
3. Chin/Mortier(SBU) win by default (No SFU Player).
Order of Finish: 3,1,2
 
Singles:
1. Martinez-Santori(SBU) def. Panizza(SFU), 6-3, 6-3.
2. Bowe(SBU) def. Plaszewski(SFU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-0.
3. Skhirtladze(SBU) def. Bode(SFU), 6-3, 6-3.
4. Miller(SFU) def. Mortier(SBU), 6-1, 6-4.
5. Doversola(SBU) def. Gryckiewicz(SFU), 6-4, 4-6, (10-7).
6. Chin(SBU) wins by default (No SFU Player).
Order of Finish: 6,3,2,1,4,5