HARMAR, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision against Duquesne on Friday at Alpha Tennis and Fitness in Harmar, Pa. The Red Flash is now 3-10 this spring.
Dani Gryckiewicz (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Academy) and
Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) were honored on Senior Day, with Gryckiewicz later winning her singles match.
"This was a great day to celebrate the careers of our two seniors," said Head Coach
Rob Castille. "Rafa and Dani have both been so important to this program, both on and off the court. A bonus would have been to come away with the win, but Duquesne was just too tough today."
At the top doubles spot, Panizza and junior
Brittany Plaszewski (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) competed against Julianne Herman and Kylie Isaacs. The Red Flash duo came up short in a tight, 7-5, set.
Gryckiewicz and freshman
Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) matched up at No. 2 against Sarah Shashura and Megan Wasson. The SFU pair fell 6-3.
At No. 3, junior
Brittini Jentz (Plano, Texas/Ursuline Academy of Dallas) and freshman
Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) took on Maddy Adams and Alexa Miller. However, Jentz and Miller dropped a 6-1 result.
In the match at No. 6 singles, Gryckiewicz battled Duquesne's Koralie Etienne. The SFU senior claimed the first set, 6-3. Gryckiewicz then won the second set, 6-4, to complete the two-set sweep. She improved to 6-6 this spring.
Panizza competed at the top singles spot against the Dukes' Issacs. However, Panizza fell 6-1, 6-2.
At the second singles spot, Plaszewski faced Herman. In straight-sets, Plaszewski dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision.
Bode battled Alexa Miller at No. 3. In two tight sets, Bode fell 7-5, 7-5. Jentz took on Ally Miller at No. 4, but came up short in a 6-2, 6-3 decision.
At No. 5,
Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) competed against the Dukes' Shashura. The SFU rookie took the first set, 7-5, but Shashura responded by winning the next set, 6-1. In a super-tiebreaker third set, Miller fell 10-8.
"Even though we lost, I think the girls took a good step forward in how they all competed," said Castille. "This was something that we have been talking about this entire year and I was pleased with how the girls fought today. We'll work hard this week as we prepare for Georgetown and our NEC opener at Mount St. Mary's." SFU is back on the road next week with a Saturday match at Georgetown, starting at 10 a.m. The Red Flash then opens up its conference schedule on Sunday at Mount St. Mary's, beginning at 11 a.m.
Doubles:1. Herman/Isaacs(DUQ) def. Panizza/Plaszewski(SFU), 7-5.
2. Shashura/Wasson(DUQ) def. Bode/Gryckiewicz(SFU), 6-3.
3. Adams/Alexa Miller(DUQ) def. Jentz/Miller(SFU), 6-1.
Order of Finish: 3,2,1 Singles:1. Isaacs(DUQ) def. Panizza(SFU), 6-1, 6-2.
2. Herman(DUQ) def. Plaszewski(SFU), 6-1, 6-2.
3. Alexa Miller(DUQ) def. Bode(SFU), 7-5, 7-5.
4. Ally Miller(DUQ) def. Jentz(SFU), 6-2, 6-3.
5. Shashura(DUQ) def. Miller(SFU), 5-7, 6-1, (10-8).
6. Gryckiewicz(SFU) def. Etienne(DUQ), 6-3, 6-4.
Order of Finish: 1,2,3,4,5,6
