NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. – The Niagara women’s tennis team’s undefeated conference season came to an end on Saturday night in a narrow 4-3 defeat to the Marist Red Foxes.

Niagara (13-7, 6-1 MAAC) was aiming for its first regular-season title and undefeated conference season since 2009; the Purple Eagles will settle for a share of first place with Marist (9-8, 6-1 MAAC) and Fairfield. Niagara will find out its seed for the 2013 MAAC Tournament starting on April 27 next week. 

“Tonight was obviously a tough loss,” head coach Anthony Nguyen said. “As disappointed as the result was I was very proud of the effort and fight the women put forth. It was a missed opportunity, but we will learn and grow from it and use it to prepare for the upcoming MAAC Tournament.”

NU entered the match winners of nine of its last 11 matches, including winning six of its last seven doubles points. However, the Purple Eagles dropped the doubles point to start the match with the lone win coming from Hilary Hansen and Maria Ortiz in one doubles for their team-leading 14th win of the season.

Straight set singles victories by Sarah Hellstern and Ortiz tied the match at 2-2; Hellstern won 6-4, 6-3 over Karlene Pang and Ortiz won 6-3, 6-4 against Marielle Campbell. Ashley Ta fell in a marathon three-set match to Joana Sun, 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 6-4 as Marist regained the lead at 3-2. The Red Foxes clinched the match in six singles before Iva Celan dropped Lisa Ventimiglia, 7-5, 7-5 to tie Hellstern for the team-lead in singles wins at 15.

Niagara concludes the regular season at home against Roberts Wesleyan on Tuesday at 2 p.m. The match will be played on campus.

Marist 4, Niagara University 3
Singles competition
1. Raynor, Kelsey (MAR) def. Hansen, Hilary (NIAW) 6-1, 6-0
2. Hellstern, Sarah (NIAW) def. Pang, Karlene (MAR) 6-4, 6-3
3. Sun, Joana (MAR) def. Ta, Ashley (NIAW) 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
4. Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) def. Campbell, Marielle (MAR) 6-3, 6-4
5. Celan, Iva (NIAW) def. Ventimiglia, Lisa (MAR) 7-5, 7-5
6. Tahir, Sabrina (MAR) def. Sardellitti, Viki (NIAW) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Hansen, Hilary/Ortiz, Maria (NIAW) def. Pang, Karlene/Sun, Joana (MAR) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Raynor, Kelsey/Tahir, Sabrina (MAR) def. Celan, Iva/Hellstern, Sarah (NIAW) 9-8 (7-3)
3. Campbell, Marielle/Eastman, Kaye (MAR) def. Ta, Ashley/McCune, Jenna (NIAW) 8-2

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,2,4,3,6,5)