NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. – The Niagara women’s tennis team cruised to a 6-1 win over the Saint Saints on Saturday night at SportsPlex.

“Both teams did a job taking care of business tonight,” head coach Anthony Nguyen said on both the men's and women's wins tonight. “We look forward to playing Loyola tomorrow morning.”

The Purple Eagles (8-5, 3-0 MAAC), who have won four of their last five matches, are off to their best MAAC start since going undefeated (7-0) in conference play during the 2008-09 season.  Niagara had little trouble tonight against Siena (2-5, 1-1 MAAC).

NU started the match by winning the doubles points. In No. 1 doubles, Hilary Hansen and Maria Ortiz defeated Jessica Macaluso and Cassandra Braz, 8-3, to improve their team’s best record to 8-3. Iva Celan and Sarah Hellstern blanked Carly Holloway and Allysa Singh in two doubles, 8-0, to wrap up the point.

NU won the top five matches in singles. Hansen, Ortiz and Ashley Ta all got back into the winning column, while Iva Celan won her third straight by knocking off Braz in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Hellstern remained undefeated in her career by defeating Singh, 6-2, 6-2, in her first match in No. 2 singles. Hellstern is 11-0 on the season.

The Purple Eagles will face Loyola on Sunday at 9 a.m.

Niagara University 6, Siena College 1
Singles competition
1. Hansen, Hilary (NIAW) def. Filip, Brittany (SIEW) 6-2, 6-0
2. Hellstern, Sarah (NIAW) def. Singh, Allysa (SIEW) 6-2, 6-2
3. Ta, Ashley (NIAW) def. Holloway, Carly (SIEW) 6-3, 6-2
4. Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) def. Macaluso, Jessica (SIEW) 6-1, 6-1
5. Celan, Iva (NIAW) def. Braz, Cassandra (SIEW) 6-1, 6-2
6. Reagan, Erika (SIEW) def. Sardellitti, Viki (NIAW) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Hansen, Hilary/Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) def. Braz, Cassandra/Macaluso, Jessica (SIEW) 8-3
2. Celan, Iva/Hellstern, Sarah (NIAW) def. Singh, Allysa/Holloway, Carly (SIEW) 8-0
3. Reagan, Erika/Filip, Brittany (SIEW) def. Ta, Ashley/McCune, Jenna (NIAW) 8-6