STEUBENVILLE – Fighting to a close but decisive 5-4 victory, the Franciscan women's tennis team defended their home court against Penn State Behrend, outlasting their opponents over three hours of play.

Taking the tiebreaker game 7-5 at No. 2 doubles, freshmen Madelyn Conrad and Grace Hammel played strategically to bring the Lady Barons to a 2-1 lead over Behrend after doubles, giving them welcome momentum over their opponents for the rest of the match.

The remainder of the night showcased the finesse of two well-matched teams.

Maria Binette and Claire Haddad surrendered only three matches between them over the course of the night, sweeping to respective 2-0 wins at No. 2 and No. 4 singles. Binette won at No. 2 6-1, 6-0, while Haddad took her match 6-2, 6-0.

 All three of the Lady Barons' victories during singles play boasted 6-0 victories in their second sets, won by Binette, Haddad, and Erin Coyne. Elsewhere on the court, Maggie Vander Woude displayed accuracy and endurance in dominating a series of impressive volleys late into her match at No. 5 singles, though she ultimately fell to her PSB opponent, 6-3, 6-4.

With the conclusion of the night, the even number of victories and losses for Franciscan at singles play still brought the team to a hard-earned victory over Behrend.

Franciscan puts its perfect 5-0 record in the AMCC on the line tomorrow morning when the Lady Barons travel to Penn State Altoona for a 9am match. FUS will take on St. Vincent in the afternoon at 4pm in non-conference action.