PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Lady Barons tennis earned the runner up spot in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference for the second time since they joined the NCAA after a 5-2 loss to Penn St. – Behrend.

After finishing with a 2-1 deficit coming out of doubles play FUS hoped to repeat the previous day's performance by once again rattling off four singles victory for the win. Despite close matches in four of the six singles matches, Franciscan came up just short. Freshman Erin Coyne pulled out a 6-1, 6-0 victory over her opponent to tie the match 2-2 but three quick losses against the Lady Barons ended the match.

Inconsistency plagued the young FUS team who was able to stay competitive with Behrend but couldn't build enough momentum to make a similar run to their semi-final match against Mt. Aloysius.

"We plan to build up our young girls over the next few years," Head Coach Jenna Lynch said. "I think the inconsistency is a lot for freshman to take on."

The offseason will be key for the Lady Barons who plan on being in non-traditional season tournaments to keep sharp and hone their skills in preparation for next fall.

"The girls are really committed to the offseason," Lynch said. "Some of the girls will participate in USTA Tournaments."

The young FUS roster has potential to grow into the dominating team in the AMCC and hope represent the conference in future NCAA Tournaments. Senior Captain Lucia Neugebauer said that she believes her teammates will finish as AMCC champions after their roster gains more experience.

"This is what they want," Neugebauer said. "They can form a solid team for the next few years. We could have won this one and I can easily see them winning next year as they gain more confidence."

Lynch agreed with her team's captain and said the Lady Barons need just a bit more experience to compliment their talent and eventually defeat the Lady Lions.

"Now that they know what we could have had they are ready to come back and claim a title," Lynch said. "They will be hungry to beat Behrend."

The Lady Barons will prepare in the off-season for fall 2014 where they hope to take their roster and bring home a title for the first time in their history.