BOX SCORE Flash Points:

• SFU Women's Tennis fell 7-0 against Duquesne on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
• The Red Flash dropped to 5-11 overall.
• Saint Francis is set to compete at the NEC Tournament next weekend.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Saint Francis Women's Tennis team dropped a 7-0 decision against Duquesne on Sunday at the Alpha Tennis and Fitness Center in Pittsburgh.  The Red Flash fell to 5-11 on the season, while Duquesne improved to 13-3.
 
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 Duquesne's Julianne Herman and Kylie Isaacs.  The Red Flash duo fell 6-3.
 
In the match at No. 2, junior Raksha Bode (Reunion, Fla./Florida Virtual School) and sophomore Lucia Seigford (Madrid, Spain/Mirasur) met the Dukes' Ally Miller and Sara Mitrovic.  The SFU pair dropped a 6-3 decision.
 
"I was a little disappointed in our doubles today," said Head Coach Rob Castille. "We were in the matches, but it just looked like we didn't believe we could win. And because of that, we didn't. I'm not sure why we were like that today as we've been really good all season, competing well and staying with some really solid teams."
 
The Dukes won the match at No. 3 doubles by default due to no SFU player available.
 
Seigford took on Duquesne's Isaacs at the top singles position, but fell 6-1, 6-0.  At No. 2, Gutierrez faced the Dukes' Herman, but dropped a 6-1, 6-1 result.
 
At No. 3, Bode met the Dukes' Laurel Shymansky but dropped a 6-2, 6-0 decision.  Tamarkin battled Duquesne's Miller at No. 4, but fell 6-3, 6-2.
 
In the match at No. 5, junior Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) took on Duquesne's Mitrovic, but fell 6-2, 6-4. 
 
Duquesne won the match at No. 6 singles by default due to no SFU player available.
 
"I think that feeling from doubles carried over into singles today," said Castille. "You just cannot go into matches doubting yourself, especially against a team as strong as Duquesne. This was a reminder that if we don't play with confidence and belief, we can get our butts kicked around a little. I am confident this won't be an issue at NECs. We've battled and competed so well this year that I have no doubt we'll do the same next weekend."
 
The Red Flash will compete at the NEC Tournament this week at the Mercer County Tennis Center in West Windsor, N.J.  The tournament begins on Friday.
 
Doubles:
1. Herman/Isaacs(DUQ) def. Gutierrez/Tamarkin(SFU), 6-3.
2. Miller/Mitrovic(DUQ) def. Bode/Seigford(SFU), 6-3.
3. Sears/Shymansky(DUQ) won the match by default (no SFU player).
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
Singles:
1. Isaacs(DUQ) def. Seigford(SFU), 6-1, 6-0.
2. Herman(DUQ) def. Gutierrez(SFU), 6-1, 6-1.
3. Shymansky(DUQ) def. Bode(SFU), 6-2, 6-0.
4. Miller(DUQ) def. Tamarkin(SFU), 6-3, 6-2.
5. Mitrovic(DUQ) def. Miller(SFU), 6-2, 6-4.
6. Adams(DUQ) won the match by default (no SFU player).
Order of Finish: 6,1,4,5,2,3