BOX SCORE Flash Points:

• SFU Women's Tennis earned a 6-1 win over St. Francis Brooklyn in its NEC opener on Sunday.
• The Red Flash won both doubles matches and all five singles matches it played.
• Saint Francis didn't drop a set in any of the matches it played.
• The Red Flash is 2-8 overall and hosts Sacred Heart next Friday, March 23, at The Club Sport and Health in Monroeville.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Saint Francis Women's Tennis team dominated its NEC opener for a 6-1 win over St. Francis Brooklyn.  The Red Flash won both doubles matches and all five singles matches it competed in, not dropping a set in any match.  Saint Francis improved to 2-8 overall.  The Terriers dropped to 1-9 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
 
"Today was a solid performance from our girls against a St. Francis Brooklyn team that keeps improving every year," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "We played with some energy in doubles and I'm pleased with how clinical we were, especially on the important points."
 
In the match at No. 1, sophomore Laura Gutierrez (Bogota, Colombia/Cibercolegio UCN) and freshman Nastasia Tamarkin (Washington, D.C./School Without Walls) met the Terriers' Laura Dimante and Ana Orozco.  The Red Flash duo picked up a 6-1 win to improve to 5-5 this Spring.
 
At No. 2, junior Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) and sophomore Lucia Seigford (Madrid, Spain/Mirasur) took on SFBK's Jean-Na Koo and Sara Stankovic.  The SFU pair earned a 6-2 win to clinch the doubles point and move to 2-2 in dual matches.
 
The Terriers won the match at No. 3 doubles by default due to no SFU player available.
 
Seigford faced the Terriers' Runsi Patro at the top singles spot.  The SFU sophomore took the opening set, 6-3.  She clinched the straight-set victory with a 6-4 second set for her second win at No. 1 this Spring.
 
Gutierrez took on SFBK's Orozco at No. 2.  The Red Flash sophomore claimed the first set, 6-3. She bettered that performance in the second set for a 6-2 victory.  Gutierrez picked up her third dual match win.
 
At No. 3, Bode matched up against St. Francis Brooklyn's Koo.  The SFU junior took the first set, 6-2.  In a tight second set, Bode came out on top, 7-6, including 7-4 in the tiebreaker for her fourth win of the Spring.
 
Tamarkin met SFBK's Stankovic at No. 4.  The Red Flash rookie won the opening set, 6-3.  She repeated that performance in the second set to improve to 6-4 this Spring.
 
Miller battled the Terriers' Dimante in the match at No. 5.  Miller dominated the first set, winning 6-0.  She completed the sweep with a 6-3 win in the next set.  Miller is also 6-4 this Spring.
 
"In singles, I thought we played clinical tennis," said Castille. "I was happy with how we played with the big points and I think that was the difference in the match. It was good to get a win in our first conference match of the season and we hope to keep this momentum going into next weekend."
 
St. Francis Brooklyn won the match at No. 6 singles by default due to no SFU player available.
 
The Red Flash continues NEC play next Friday with a 2 p.m. match against Sacred Heart at The Club Sport and Health in Monroeville.  The Pioneers are 2-8 this season.
 
Doubles:
1. Gutierrez/Tamarkin(SFU) def. Dimante/Orozco(SFBK), 6-1.
2. Bode/Seigford(SFU) def. Koo/Stankovic(SFBK), 6-2.
3. Lenjor/Patro(SFBK) win by default (No SFU Player)
Order of Finish: 3,1,2
 
Singles:
1. Seigford(SFU) def. Patro(SFBK), 6-3, 6-4.
2. Gutierrez(SFU) def. Orozco(SFBK), 6-3, 6-2.
3. Bode(SFU) def. Koo(SFBK), 6-2, 7-6(4).
4. Tamarkin(SFU) def. Stankovic(SFBK), 6-3, 6-3.
5. Miller(SFU) def. Dimante(SFBK), 6-0, 6-3.
6. Lenjor(SFBK) wins by default (No SFU Player)
Order of Finish: 6,2,1,3,4,5