WEST HAVEN, Conn – The Sacred Heart University women's tennis team opened their NEC schedule with a 5-2 win over Saint Francis University Saturday night at Yale Indoor Tennis Center. The Pioneers improve to 3-3 on the season.

Saint Francis won two of three doubles matches to earn the first point of the match. The duo of Nicole Ryzdzewski (Maspeth, NY) and Taylor Gurda (Middletown, NY) defeated Shivani Patel and Lucy Jasso, 8-5, to earn SHU's lone doubles win.

The Pioneers rebounded from the doubles loss to win five of six singles matches, all in straight sets. Sacred Heart has now won two consecutive matches.   

Singles

Katie DeRienzo (SHU) def. Rafaela Panizza, 6-3, 7-5

Gabi Kaldan (SHU) def. Shivani Patel, 6-4, 6-0

Alex Sachs def. Lindsey Post (SHU), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5

Paige Olson (SHU) def. Lucy Jasso, 6-1, 6-3

Nicole Rydzewski (SHU) def.  Taya Zoubareva, 6-3, 6-3

Taylor Gurda (SHU) def. Camila Diaz, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

Panizza/Zoubareva def. DeRienzo/Kaldan (SHU), 8-4

Brittini Jentz/Sachs def. Post/Olson (SHU), 8-5

Rydzewski/Gurda (SHU) def. Patel/Jasso, 8-5

The Pioneers are back in action on March 4th when they travel to Hawaii for three matches over spring break.