EMMITSBURG, Md. – The Saint Francis women's tennis team defeated Mount St. Mary's, 6-1, on Sunday to begin NEC Play. The Red Flash won the doubles point and five of six singles matches. SFU improved to 4-11 on the season, while Mount St. Mary's dropped to 3-13.
At the top doubles spot, senior
Rafaela Panizza (Jundiai, Brazil) and senior
Brittany Plaszewski (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) matched up against Erin Benefiel and Kelly Smith. The Red Flash duo came out on top in a tough set, 7-6, including 7-4 in the tiebreaker. It was the fifth doubles win of the season for Panizza and Plaszewski.
In the matchup at the third spot, junior
Brittini Jentz (Plano, Texas/Ursuline Academy of Dallas) and freshman
Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) combined against Emma Blake and Isabella Draper. The SFU pair claimed a 6-1 win to pick up its fourth win of the spring.
Freshman
Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) and senior
Dani Gryckiewicz (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Academy) competed at No. 2 against the Mount's Sruthi Kamprath and Brittany Poje. However, Bode and Gryckiewicz fell 6-4.
Panizza took on Mount St. Mary's Smith at the top singles spot. The SFU senior won the first set, 6-1. She completed the straight-set victory with a 6-4 second set for her third win at No. 1.
At the second singles spot, Plaszewski faced Poje. The Red Flash junior claimed the opening set, 6-2. She clinched a sweep with a 6-1 second set. Plaszewski now has five wins this spring.
In the matchup at No. 3, Bode competed against the Mount's Benefiel. The SFU rookie dropped the first set, 6-4, but responded with a 6-4 set of her own in the next frame. In the deciding super-tiebreaker set, Bode came out on top, 10-4. It was Bode's fifth dual match win.
At No. 5, Miller battled MSM's Blake. The SFU freshman took the first set, 6-1. Miller bettered her performance to win the second set, 6-0. It was also Miller's fifth win of the spring.
Gryckiewicz matched up at the sixth spot against the Mount's Draper. The Red Flash senior dominated the opening set, winning 6-0. She earned a straight-set victory with a 6-1 second frame. She leads SFU with seven wins this spring.
Jentz lined up at the fourth position against Kamprath. The Saint Francis junior dropped a 6-2, 6-4 decision.
Saint Francis returns to non-conference play next weekend. SFU travels to Wright State for a 3 p.m. match on Friday and visits Dayton for a 1 p.m. match on Saturday.
Doubles:1. Panizza/Plaszewski(SFU) def. Benefiel/Smith(MSM), 7-6(4).
2. Kamprath/Poje(MSM) def. Bode/Gryckiewicz(SFU), 6-4.
3. Jentz/Miller(SFU) def. Blake/Draper(MSM), 6-1.
Order of Finish: 3,2,1 Singles:1. Panizza(SFU) def. Smith(MSM), 6-1, 6-4.
2. Plaszewski(SFU) def. Poje(MSM), 6-2, 6-1.
3. Bode(SFU) def. Benefiel(MSM), 4-6, 6-4, 1-0(4).
4. Kamprath def. Jentz(SFU), 6-2, 6-4.
5. Miller(SFU) def. Blake(MSM), 6-1, 6-0.
6. Gryckiewicz(SFU) def. Draper(MSM), 6-0, 6-1.
Order of Finish: 5,2,6,4,1,3
