Brackets | Tournament Central

LORETTO, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's team edged out LIU Brooklyn, 4-3, in an intense match that came down to the last three sets on Friday in the First Round of the NEC Championships.  The Red Flash dropped the doubles point, but battled through to win four singles matches.  SFU improved to 7-14 on the year and moves onto the NEC Semifinals, where it will face Bryant, the top seed, at 9 a.m.
 
The match point came down to the battle at No. 5.  Saint Francis freshman Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) met LIU Brooklyn's Rianna van Son.  After dropping the first set, 6-4, Miller responded by winning a tight second set, 7-5.  In the deciding set for the entire match, Miller came out on top, 6-3, to clinch the Red Flash win.
 
Brittany Plaszewski (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) competed at No. 2 against the Blackbirds' Caroline Koenigsfeldt.  The SFU junior claimed the first set, 6-2.  She completed a straight-set victory with another 6-2 set win. 
 
At No. 3, freshman Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) took on Malin Leyson.  The Red Flash rookie won the first set, 6-3, but Leyson claimed the next set, 6-4.  In the final set, Bode came out on top, 6-2.  Bode's win broke a 2-2 tie in the overall match score.
 
Senior Dani Gryckiewicz (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Academy) faced Isabella Wagener in the match at No. 6.  Gryckiewicz dominated the first set, 6-0.  She nearly repeated the performance in the second set, winning 6-1. 
 
Lining up at No. 1 were Red Flash senior Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) and LIU's Anna Grigoryan.  However, Panizza fell 6-3, 6-3.
 
Junior Brittini Jentz (Plano, Texas/Ursuline Academy of Dallas) competed at the fourth position against the Blackbirds' Meriam Rhallab.  The SFU junior fell, 6-4, in the opening set, but bounced back to take a close second set, 7-5.  In the final set, Rhallab won 6-3 to tie the overall match score at 3-all and setup Miller's clinching point.
 
At the top doubles spot, Panizza and Plaszewski took on LIU's Grigoryan and Koenigsfeldt.  The Red Flash duo dropped a 6-2 decision.
 
Bode and Gryckiewicz met the Blackbirds' Leyson and Wagener at the second spot.  In a tight set, the SFU pair fell 7-5.
 
The match at No. 3 was stopped after LIU clinched the doubles point.  SFU's Jentz and Miller were locked in a 6-6 tie, but were ahead 4-3 in the tiebreaker.
 
"I want to congratulate LIU on a great season and a tremendous match," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "This was a battle which came down to a few points here and there. I was disappointed to lose the doubles point. We served for the match at both No. 2 and No. 3, but didn't close them out. We know we have to be better tomorrow and finish matches. I was so pleased with how we responded in singles."
 
"We just wanted this so badly and would not give up. This was probably the best match, as a team, we've played this year. We know we'll have to be just as good tomorrow when we face a very tough Bryant team."
 
Doubles:
1. Grigoryan/Koenigsfeldt(LIU) def. Panizza/Plaszewski(SFU), 6-2.
2. Leyson/Wagener(LIU) def. Bode/Gryckiewicz(SFU), 7-5.
3. Jentz/Miller(SFU) vs. Rhallab/van Son(LIU), 6-6(4-3), unfinished.
Order of Finish: 2,1
 
Singles:
1. Grigoryan(LIU) def. Panizza(SFU), 6-3, 6-3.
2. Plaszewski(SFU) def. Koenigsfeldt(LIU), 6-2, 6-2.
3. Bode(SFU) def. Leyson(LIU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
4. Rhallab(LIU) def. Jentz(SFU), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
5. Miller(SFU) def. van Son(LIU), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
6. Gryckiewicz(SFU) def. Wagener(LIU), 6-0, 6-1.
Order of Finish: 2,6,1,3,4,5