Flash Points:

• SFU women's tennis dropped a 6-1 decision at Northern Kentucky on Saturday.
• The Red Flash lost the doubles point and won one singles match
• Sophomore Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) won a singles match at No. 4.

DAYTON, Ohio – The Saint Francis women's tennis team fell 6-1 in its season-opening match at Northern Kentucky on Saturday.  The Norse won the doubles point and five singles matches, with sophomore Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) picking up a singles win for Saint Francis.
 
"It's unfortunate that we have to start the season down a player, but I was proud of the way the girls fought," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "Northern Kentucky has a strong and deep team and I thought they were the better team today.
 
In the match at No. 2 doubles, Miller combined with fellow sophomore Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) against NKU's Katja Dijanezevic and Yasmine Xantos.  The Red Flash duo earned a 6-1 victory.
 
At the top doubles spot, freshmen Laura Gutierrez (Bogota, Colombia/Cibercolegio UCN) and Lucia Seigford (Madrid, Spain/Mirasur) matched up against Northern Kentucky's Danielle Donahue and Klara Skopac.  However, the SFU pair dropped a 6-4 decision.  The duo is now 2-2 overall.
 
The Norse won the match at No. 3 due to no SFU pair being available to play.
 
"We had opportunities to win the doubles point, but we are a little inexperienced with the right way to play doubles," said Castille. "So this is something that we'll continue to work and focus on in the coming weeks."
 
Miller took on NKU's Donahue at the No. 4 singles spot.  The Red Flash sophomore fell 6-4 in the first set, but bounced back to win the next set, 6-2.  In a tight super-tiebreaker third set, Miller came out on top, 13-11.  Miller improved to 6-4 overall in singles.
 
Gutierrez competed at No. 1 against the Norse's Margita Sunjic.  The SFU rookie fell 6-2, 6-2.  She is now 5-6 overall this year.
 
In the match at No. 2 singles, Seigford faced Northern Kentucky's Skopac.  The Red Flash freshman dropped a 6-2, 6-4 result.  Seigford is now 5-4 overall.
 
At No. 3 singles, Bode met NKU's Dijanezevic.  The NKU freshman claimed the first set, 6-3.  Bode responded by winning the second set, 6-2.  In a super-tiebreaker third set, Bode fell 11-9.  The SFU sophomore is 4-6 overall in singles.
 
Freshman Kathryn Dunleavy (Farmington Hills, Mich./Mercy) competed at No. 5 against the Norse's Sierra Nellessen.  The Red Flash rookie dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision.
 
"In singles, while some of the scores look lopsided, I was pleased with how the girls fought and competed," said Castille. "We'll correct some of the mistakes and build off some of the positives and look to improve each day."
 
The Red Flash meets Wright State on Sunday for a Noon match.  It is Wright State's first match of the Spring.
 
Doubles:
1. Donahue/Skopac(NKU) def. Gutierrez/Seigford(SFU), 6-4.
2. Bode/Miller(SFU) def. Dijanezevic/Xantos(NKU), 6-1.
3. Nellessen/Sunjic(NKU) win by default (No SFU player).
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
Singles:
1. Sunjic(NKU) def. Gutierrez(SFU), 6-2, 6-2.
2. Skopac(NKU) def. Seigford(SFU), 6-2, 6-4.
3. Dijanezevic(NKU) def. Bode(SFU), 6-3, 2-6, 1-0(9).
4. Miller(SFU) def. Donahue(NKU), 4-6, 6-2, 1-0(11).
5. Nellessen(NKU) def. Dunleavy(SFU), 6-1, 6-3.
6. Xantos(NKU) wins by default (No SFU player).
Order of Finish: 6,5,1,2,4,3