Women's Tennis | 3/20/2026 12:48:00 AM

WEEKEND PREVIEW 
Coming into Saturday's match with four straight wins, the Saint Francis women's tennis team looks to keep its winning streak alive as it faces NEC opponent LIU on Saturday, March 21, at the Gorilla House Gym in Altoona, Pa., with a start time of 1 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT  
Saint Francis women's tennis extended its winning streak to four with a commanding 7-0 sweep over Binghamton on Sunday in Altoona. The Red Flash set the tone early by securing the doubles point with wins on all three courts, then carried that momentum into singles play, capturing all six matches in straight sets. Led by standout performances from sophomore Dasha Chichkina, senior Kelly Dowuona, and freshman Helena Lynn, Saint Francis showcased its depth and consistency in a dominant all-around effort.

OPENING SERVE VS LIU  
After being voted to finish fourth in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, LIU enters this weekend with a 2-6 record. The Sharks' top player is Paula Guillen, who is 7-7.

THE LAST TIME WE PLAYED THE SHARKS  
The last match against the Sharks took place last year, when the Red Flash won 4-3 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

HEAD TO HEAD 
This is just the fifth meeting between these two programs, with the Sharks currently leading the all-time series with three wins.

NEXT SERVE
The Saint Francis women's tennis team is back in action next weekend on Friday, March 27, as it hits the road to take on Mercyhurst at the Westwood Racquet Club in Erie, Pa., slated for a 5 p.m. start.

AT THE HELM 
As head coach, Hovan continues his fifth season in Loretto. Very few words can describe his career other than "successful," as he's helped both the men's and women's teams reach new heights. In 2023-24, he was named NEC Coach of the Year after helping the men reach their second NEC Championship Game. Last season, the women's tennis team made the NEC Championship Game for the first time in program history.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN THE LO'
On Nov.25 of 2025, the Saint Francis University women's tennis doubles team of Sophia Cunningham and Emma Marais earned national recognition from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), marking the program's first after going 6-1 in the fall slate of the 2025 season. As of this writing, the underclassmen duo is still the only NEC doubles team nationally ranked during the 2026-26 season.

ALL-TIME LEADER
Senior Kelly Dowuona is the program's all-time leader in combined wins and, as of Friday, Sept. 6, the all-time leader in singles matches with 59 victories. Last season, she posted a 24-12 singles record and a 21-14 doubles record. Her 24 singles wins are tied for the second-most in a single season in program history, a record also achieved by Dasha Chichkina in 2024-25. As of Feb. 9, Dowuona is at 11-10, bringing her career total to 71 wins.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK 
While the Red Flash women's tennis team boasts experience from last year's championship team, Coach Hovan and Assistant Coach Palko added four first-year players: Gabriela Almanza (Orlando, Florida/Lake Nona), Helena Lynn (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania/Mother Divine Grace), Emma Marais (Lodi, California/Vista Oaks Charter), and Julia Ritchey (Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania/Central).