Full Results

Loretto, Pa. - The Saint Francis women's tennis team started its fall season in impressive fashion last weekend at the Bucknell Invitational.

Junior Laura Gutierrez (Bogota, Colombia/Cibercolegio UCN) led the Red Flash with a tremendous display in the Flight 1 Women's Singles Bracket.

Gutierrez defeated Sloane Williams from Howard in her first match 6-2, 6-3 before downing Loyola's Abby Thornton in her next match to reach the semifinals. 

She wasn't done there as she topped Bucknell's Cayla Koch to set up a finals match with Daniela Bellini of Bucknell. Despite the loss in the finals, Gutierrez managed to post a 3-1 record singles record for the week.

Joining Gutierrez in Flight 1 was junior Lucia Seigford (Madrid, Spain/Mirasur). After an opening loss to Bellini, Seigford rebounded by defeating Lafayette's Samantha Snyder. Her tournament ended with a loss to Lauren O'Brien of Colgate for a 1-2 singles record.

Representing the Red Flash in Flight 2 was senior Stephanie Miller (Washington, D.C./St. John's College High School) and sophomore Nastasia Tamarkin (Washington, D.C./School Without Walls).

Miller enjoyed a similar run as Gutierrez did in Flight 1, downing Maureen McCormack from Lafayette in her opening match (5-7, 6-4, 10-7). Victories over Sandra Aguirre (Loyola) and Sofia Ayuso (Bucknell) sent Miller to the bracket finals where she was defeated by Colgate's Madison Kiani.

After receiving an opening round bye, Tamarkin dropped her first match to Kiani 7-5, 6-4.

Saint Francis experienced similar success in doubles play. The duo of Tamarkin and Gutierrez got on a role in the Women's Doubles Top Flight with victories over Colgate's Deeter/O'Brien and Bucknell's Papich/Ayuso. They were edged in the championship match by Bucknell's Leavy/Koch in a match that came down to the wire.

Seigford and Miller also teamed up in Flight 1, finishing with a 1-1 record. The team bested Lafayette's Lesnick/Snyder in its first match before falling to Mount St. Mary's Cook/Quintanilla in the next round.

For the weekend, the Red Flash amassed a combined 7-5 record in singles action and a 3-2 record in doubles play. 

"I am very proud of the way the ladies competed last weekend," said head coach Rob Castille. "We laid a great foundation to build off of for the rest of the fall as we try to improve each and every day to get us ready for the spring."