Emmitsburg, Md. (March 15, 2014) – Playing in the Northeast Conference opener, the Mount St. Mary's women's tennis team lost to Saint Francis U, 6-1, at home on Saturday. The Mount earned its point at No. 1 singles when senior Samantha Pinchoff fought her way to a three set victory.

SFU (6-5, 2-2 NEC) handled the Mount (5-7, 0-1 NEC) in doubles with wins at all three slots.

In singles, the Red Flash was victorious in five of the six matches. Battling Rafaela Panizza, Pinchoff dropped the first set, but recovered with wins of 6-2 and 10-4 for the Mount's lone point.

Freshman Erin Benefiel also played a three set match at No. 5 singles before falling to Danielle Gryckiewicz. At No. 6, Danielle Nguyen fought for a third-set tiebreaker after losing the first set. In the decisive third, Nguyen and Taya Zoubareva went back and forth before Zoubareva prevailed, 18-16, to take the match.

The Mount plays at home again tomorrow with an 11 a.m. match versus Robert Morris.

Doubles
1. Zoubareva/Panizza (SFU) def. J. Smith/K. Smith (Mount), 8-1
2. Grychiewicz/Sachs (SFU) def. Pinchoff/Rossi (Mount), 8-3
3. Jasso/Jentz (SFU) def. D'Agostino/Benefiel (Mount), 8-2

Singles
1. Pinchoff (Mount) def. Panizza (SFU), 3-6, 6-2, 10-4
2. Patel (SFU) def. Rossi (Mount), 6-3, 6-1
3. Sachs (SFU) def. K. Smith (Mount), 6-4, 6-3
4. Jasso (SFU) def. D'Agostino (Mount), 6-1, 6-0
5. Gryckiewicz (SFU) def. Benefiel (Mount), 6-2, 3-6, 10-3
6. Zoubareva (SFU) def. Nguyen (Mount), 6-4, 5-7, 18-16