BOX SCORE Flash Points:

• SFU Women's Tennis earned a 5-2 win over Bucknell on Friday in Monroeville.
• The Red Flash won both doubles matches it competed in.
• Saint Francis also won four of five singles matches.
• The Red Flash picked up its first win of the year and takes on Detroit on Saturday at The Club Sport and Health.

MONROEVILLE, Pa. – The Saint Francis Women's Tennis team claimed a 5-2 victory over Bucknell on Friday at The Club Sport and Health.  The Red Flash won both doubles matches it played and four of the five singles matches it played.  Saint Francis earned its first win of the season, improving to 1-6, while Bucknell dropped to 4-2.
 
At the top doubles spot, sophomore Laura Gutierrez (Bogota, Colombia/Cibercolegio UCN) and freshman Nastasia Tamarkin (Washington, D.C./School Without Walls) matched up against Bucknell's Lisa Jouravleva and Paige Leavy.  The Red Flash duo earned a 6-3 win to improve to 3-3 this Spring.
 
In the match at No. 2, junior Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) and sophomore Lucia Seigford (Madrid, Spain/Mirasur) combined against the Bison's Cayla Koch and Mishi Papich.  The SFU pair dominated in a 6-1 win to move to 1-1 in dual matches.
 
"This was a great win today against a team that is always solid," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "The girls showed a great amount of character today and I am thrilled for them that they could get their first win of the season."
 
Bucknell won the match at No. 3 doubles by default due to no SFU player available.
 
Gutierrez took on the Bison's Leavy at No. 2 singles.  The SFU sophomore claimed a 6-1 victory in the first set, but dropped the second set, 6-1.  Gutierrez dominated the final set for a 6-0 win for her second win this Spring.
 
Junior Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) faced Bucknell's Papich at No. 3.  After falling 6-3 in the opening set, the SFU junior bounced back to win the next set, 6-3.  Bode came out on top, 6-1, in the final set to improve to 3-4 in dual matches.
 
At No. 4, Miller battled the Bison's Koch.  The Red Flash junior claimed the first set, 6-2, but fell 6-1 in the next set.  In the deciding set, Miller won 6-3.  She is now 3-3 this Spring.
 
Tamarkin met Bucknell's Schuyler La Barge at No. 5.  The Red Flash rookie won the opening set, 6-3.  She clinched a straight-set victory with a 6-3 win in the second set.  Tamarkin's win clinched the match point and moved her to 3-3 in dual matches.
 
In the match at No. 1, Seigford took on Bucknell's Jouravleva.  In a tight first set, Jouravleva came out on top, 7-6(4), but Seigford responded by winning the second set, 6-4.  In a tough final set, Seigford fell 7-6(5). 
 
The Bison won the match at No. 6 singles by default due to no SFU player available.
 
"We got off to a good start by winning the doubles point and carried that into singles," said Castille. "We've had some really close matches and just haven't been able to get over the hump. We put ourselves in position to win and today, the girls believed in themselves and played with confidence and closed things out. We'll get some rest and be ready for a strong Detroit Mercy team tomorrow."
 
The Red Flash concludes the weekend on Saturday against Detroit, beginning at 4 p.m. at The Club Sport and Health.
 
Doubles:
1. Gutierrez/Tamarkin(SFU) def. Jouravleva/Leary(Buck), 6-3.
2. Miller/Seigford(SFU) def. Koch/Papich(Buck), 6-1.
3. Ayuso/Melch(Buck) wins by default (No SFU Player)
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
Singles:
1. Jouravleva(Buck) def. Seigford(SFU), 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(5).
2. Gutierrez(SFU) def. Leavy(Buck), 6-1, 1-6, 6-0.
3. Bode(SFU) def. Papich(Buck), 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
4. Miller(SFU) def. Koch(Buck), 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
5. Tamarkin(SFU) def. La Barge(Buck), 6-3, 6-3.
6. Bucknell wins by default (No SFU Player)
Order of Finish: 6,2,3,1,5,4