Freshman Vanja Lakic was a double winner Friday.

FLUSHING, N.Y. –  The Niagara University women’s tennis team took one step closer to defending its Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title late Friday when it beat Rider University, 6-1, in the quarterfinals at the United States Tennis Association Tennis Center. With the win, the Purple Eagles play second-seeded Siena College at 2 p.m. Saturday at Saint Peter’s.

Third seeded Niagara swept the doubles matches and took a 1-0 lead in the match.

Senior Danielle Grenier (Fort Erie, Ont.) and junior Julianne Prokopich (Loretto, Ont.) defeated Devin and Caitlin Crawbuck, 8-3 at No. 1. At No. 2, junior Jacquelyn Cary (Selkirk, N.Y.) and sophomore Shella Dargout (Rochester, N.Y.) downed Tanya Cota and Danielle Morse, 8-1. The freshman duo of Vanja Lakic (Waterloo, Ont.) and Victoria Tiso (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) won at No. 3 doubles, 8-2, over Dana Previti and Kelly Anne Chouinard.

The Purple Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the match when Dargout ousted Morse, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. Lakic made it 3-0 Niagara with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Cota.

Sophomore Kim Roberts (Victoria, B.C.) beat Chouinard 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles to secured the match for Niagara.

Cary won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5 singles and Grenier posted a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 2 for the Purple Eagles’ fifth and sixth points.

Prokopich lost in a super tie breaker at No. 3 singles, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-10.