BOX SCORE Flash Points:

• SFU Women's Tennis fell 3-2 in a tight match at Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday.
• The teams split the doubles matches before FDU won three singles matches.  
• Four of the five singles matches went to a third set.
• The Red Flash is now 2-1 in NEC play heading into tomorrow's match at LIU Brooklyn.

BOGOTA, N.J. – The Saint Francis Women's Tennis team fell 3-2 in a tight match at Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday.  The teams split the doubles point, before FDU won three of five singles matches.  Four matches went to a third set.  The Red Flash is now 3-10 overall and 2-1 in NEC play, while FDU is now 1-9 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
 
Junior Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) and sophomore Lucia Seigford (Madrid, Spain/Mirasur) matched up at No. 2 doubles against FDU's Tatiana Eftenoiu and Anamaria Vladescu.  The Red Flash duo earned a 6-4 win to improve to 4-2 this Spring.
 
At No. 1, sophomore Laura Gutierrez (Bogota, Colombia/Cibercolegio UCN) and freshman Nastasia Tamarkin (Washington, D.C./School Without Walls) met the Knights' Patricia Eftenoiu and Marta Ruszczynksa.  The SFU pair fell 6-4 and is now 6-6 in dual matches.
 
"We knew going in this was going to be a battle and we were not wrong," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "Credit to FDU for pulling out a very well-played match. I thought we came out a little shaky in doubles, especially at No. 1. But I think we'll learn from this and be better in the future."
 
In the match at No. 2 singles, Gutierrez battled Fairleigh Dickinson's Patricia Eftenoiu.  After dropping the first set, 6-3, Gutierrez bounced back for a 6-4 win in set two.  In the deciding set, Gutierrez came out on top, 6-3, for her fourth win this Spring.
 
Tamarkin competed against FDU's Liza Rachenko.  The Red Flash rookie fell 6-2 in the opening set, but responded by winning the next set, 6-2.  In the final set, Tamarkin won 6-2 to improve to 8-4 in dual matches.
 
At No. 1, Seigford met the Knights' Tatiana Eftenoiu.  However, the SFU sophomore fell 6-4, 6-0.
 
Bode took on FDU's Ruszczynska at No. 3.  After dropping the first set, 6-4, Bode claimed the next set, 6-3.  In the deciding set, Bode fell 6-3.
 
The match point came down to the battle at No. 5 between junior Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) and the Knights' Vladescu.  The SFU junior dropped the first set, 6-2, but won the second set, 6-2.  In the final set, Vladescu came out on top, 6-3.
 
"In singles, we fought until the end and just came up short," said Castille. "I think we need to be a little more solid, especially on the big points. We're still giving away too many free points with errors and double faults. Against a good team like FDU, that will come back to hurt you. Overall, we competed really well and I'm proud of the girls. We'll get some rest and be ready for a strong LIU team tomorrow."
 
The Red Flash continues NEC play on Sunday with a 3 p.m. match at LIU Brooklyn.  The Blackbirds are 10-3 overall and 2-0 in conference action.
 
Doubles:
1. P. Eftenoiu/Ruszczynksa(FDU) def. Gutierrez/Tamarkin(SFU), 6-4.
2. Bode/Seigford(SFU) def. T. Eftenoiu/Vladescu(FDU), 6-4.
Order of Finish: 2,1
 
Singles:
1. T. Eftenoiu(FDU) def. Seigford(SFU), 6-4, 6-0.
2. Gutierrez(SFU) def. P. Eftenoiu(FDU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
3. Ruszczynska(FDU) def. Bode(SFU), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
4. Tamarkin(SFU) def. Rachenko(FDU), 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
5. Vladescu(FDU) def. Miller(SFU), 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
Order of Finish: 1,3,2,4,5