NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. – The Niagara women’s tennis team fell in its spring opener to the St. Francis (Pa.) Red Flash, 5-2, on Saturday.

NU narrowly dropped the doubles point. Hilary Hansen and Maria Ortiz won 8-4 in No. 1 doubles, but the Purple Eagles fell in No. 3 doubles. The tandem of Ashley Ta and freshman Sarah Hellstern were down 7-4 in No. 2 doubles, but battled back to tie the match at 7-7 before falling in the tie-breaker.

Hansen and rookie Hellstern picked up wins straight set wins in singles. Hansen topped SFU’s Rafeala Panizza, 6-2, 6-1, and Hellstern, who was playing in her first collegiate match, won 7-5, 6-1 in No. 5 singles.

“It is a disappointing loss,” head coach Anthony Nguyen said.  “I don’t think we handled the tough moments well. When they were close situations in matches, we lacked toughness. However, with this being the first match of the spring season we will grow and get better.”

Niagara is back on the court on Saturday, Feb. 2 against Robert Morris.

St. Francis (Pa.) 5, Niagara University 2

Singles competition
1. Hansen, Hilary (NIAW) def. Rafeala Panizza (SFUW) 6-2, 6-1
2. Shivani Patel (SFUW) def. Ta, Ashley (NIAW) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
3. Lucy Jasso (SFUW) def. Celan, Iva (NIAW) 6-1, 6-2
4. Alex Sachs (SFUW) def. Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Hellstern, Sarah (NIAW) def. Danielle Gryckiewicz (SFUW) 7-5, 6-1
6. Camila Diaz (SFUW) def. Sardellitti, Viki (NIAW) 6-4, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Hansen, Hilary/Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) def. Rafeala Panizza/Lucy Jasso (SFUW) 8-4
2. Alex Sachs/Shivani Patel (SFUW) def. Ta, Ashley/Hellstern, Sarah (NIAW) 8-7 (7-4)
3. Danielle Gryckiewicz/Camila Diaz (SFUW) def. Celan, Iva/McCune, Jenna (NIAW) 8-3