STEUBENVILLE - Franciscan women's tennis fell 8-1 to Westminster (Pa.) in the team's spring season finale.

"We're playing Westminster who won their conference," head coach Jeremy Ellis said. "They're going to the NCAA tournament as well so we knew it was going to be a tough match. They beat Penn St.-Behrend 7-2 during the year. The girls had a tough competitor but they all played well. It was just a great day of tennis. "

In doubles play, sophomore Anna O'Connor and freshman Taranee Karimpour continued to be a bright spot for the Lady Barons. O'Connor and Karimpour lost the first three games but bounced back, pulling out an 8-5 victory at No. 3 doubles for Franciscan's only point of the match.

"No. 3 doubles turned it around," Ellis said. "Anna and Taranee, that's 2-0 together. They both played really well."

Freshmen Maria Binette and Julia Razook had the next most competitive match at No. 1 doubles, losing by a score of 8-5.

"Our ones played really good doubles too," Ellis said. "No. 1 doubles played well and No. 3 doubles won and played great."

Binette had the toughest singles match at No. 1, dropping her first set at love 6-0 but rallied to win the second set 7-5 and lost the third set 6-0 as well.

"She had a really good second set," Ellis said. "That was a good match to watch."

Playing in her final collegiate tennis match, O'Connor celebrated "Convent Day" instead of Senior Day as she will be leaving the university to enter religious life. Unfortunately, the sophomore could not pull out one last win, losing her No. 5 singles match 6-2, 6-0.

"We are losing Anna as well," Ellis said. "It being 'Convent Day,' she lost her match but she played really well."

At No. 6 singles, O'Connor's doubles partner Karimpour was the last one on the court, fighting to bring the final score to 7-2 instead of 8-1. The freshman dropped the first set 6-1 but fought in the second set, dropping it by a score of 6-4.

"Taranee has just been playing really well," Ellis said.

After two dual matches with the men's team, the Lady Barons spring season has come to an end. Despite two losses and a spotty practice schedule, Ellis said that he feels the girls performed well in the non-traditional season.

"Spring tennis is hit or miss," Ellis said. "Not having the same team that we had in the fall, the girls all played really well."

Franciscan will hit the courts once again in the fall 2016 season when the Lady Barons look to return to the top of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.