NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s and women’s tennis teams play their first dual matches of the season this weekend on the Monteagle Ridge campus courts when they host St. Francis (Pa.) and at Oakland University. The women’s team kicks off the weekend at Oakland at 10 a.m. Saturday. Both Purple Eagle squads host the Red Flash of St. Francis at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The Niagara women’s team is coming off wins in the Niagara Regional Tournament. Senior Jacquelyn Cary (Selkirk, N.Y.) went 2-1 in singles in the tournament and sophomore Victoria Tiso (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) was 1-0. In doubles, Cary went 1-1 with a pair of partners in juniors Shella Dargout (Rochester, N.Y.) and Kim Roberts (Victoria, B.C.).

Oakland opens its fall season this weekend. Last year, the Grizzles finished 6-10 overall and 4-4 in the Mid-Continent Conference. Oakland’s top two returning players are senior Jessica Erickson and Lauren Sanchez-Murphy. Erickson was 11-6 overall last year at No. 6 singles while Sanchez-Murphy excelled in doubles.

The St. Francis (Pa.) women’s team is 1-5 on the season. Ruxandra Ionescu is 5-1 at No. 1 singles and Abigail Ball is 2-3 at No. 2 singles.

For the men, Niagara junior Walter Garcia (Oaxaca, Mexico) is 6-4 overall while senior Erick Garcia (Oaxaca, Mexico) is 6-2. In doubles, Erick Garcia and sophomore Marc Dickinson (Saskatoon, Sask.) are 5-2 and Walter Garcia and classmate Alex Abji (Vancouver, B.C.) are 4-3.

The Red Flash stand at 0-1 on the season. They dropped a 6-1 match at Robert Morris Sept. 10. Tyler Jones has the lone win for St. Francis.