Sophomore Julianne Prokopich was a double winner Sunday vs. St. Francis (Pa.)

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University women’s tennis team (1-3) won its first dual match of the season Sunday when it defeated St. Francis (Pa.) (1-6), 6-1, on the Monteagle Ridge campus.

The Purple Eagles won their third doubles point of the year, sweeping all three matches. Senior Mariam Al-Shikarchy and sophomore Jacquelyn Cary defeated Lesley Wenzel and Roxy Ionescu, 8-4 at No. 1. At No. 2, senior Kendra Daigler (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) and sophomore Julianne Prokopich beat Mallory Palmer and Eva Keresztes, 8-3. The freshmen duo of Shella Dargout and Paige Welch defeated Johanna Jackson and Danielle Gauthier, 8-3, at No. 3.

Al-Shikarchy improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in dual matches with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No.1 over Wenzel. Daigler fell at No. 2 to Inonesuu, 6-3, 6-0, and Cary picked up her first dual victory of the season with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Keresztes.

At No. 4, Prokopich got her first dual match win with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Palmer. Dargout picked up her fourth win of the season, beating Becky Seybold, 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5. Welch improved to 2-1 overall with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 6 over Lauren Gamerro.

Niagara returns to action Oct. 9 when it opens its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season with an 11 a.m. match vs. Rider.