Allegheny 6, Franciscan 3

STEUBENVILLE, OHIO - Franciscan Women's Tennis dropped their first conference match of the season to top-ranked Allegheny on Wednesday night at home. The Barons were leading after doubles play, but the Gators would be too strong in singles play. 

Doubles
     Allegheny's doubles pairs came into today's match undefeated on the season, but Franciscan was able to hand out a pair of losses to the visiting team today. Franciscan In #3 doubles were the first to finish, as the freshman duo of Claire Cardie and Kina Ehlers would get Franciscan on the board. The won 8-5 in a back and forth battle that the Barons finally took over in the later half. Next to finish were #2 doubles. Haley Davinsizer and Estelle Leon lost their first doubles match of the season while paired together, as Allegheny won by a score of 8-6. Then at #1 doubles, Maria Herrera and Olivia Colby completed a crucial come from behind victory to win 8-7. They faced match point, as the Gators were leading 7-6, but the Barons stepped up and pushed it to a tiebreak. Franciscan kept up the momentum as they took early control of the tiebreak, as they won that by a score of 8-6 to earn the desired eighth point. 

Singles
    Franciscan would not have as much success in singles play. Olivia Colby, Kina Ehlers, and Haley Davinsizer would fall in the first three singles matches to finish to give the Gators a 4-3. The Barons would have to win two out of the remaining three matches to win. Maria Herrera would take care of business at #1 singles, as she remains unbeaten in Individual matches this season. Claire Cardie fought hard, but would fall in #4 singles. Estelle Leon showed a lot of heart, as she won the first set in a tiebreak at #6 singles. She then dropped the second set and lost in a close tiebreaking third set. 

Next Up
Franciscan will hit the road, as they continue PAC play at Westminster on Saturday. The Barons are 2-10 all-time against the Titans, including an 8-1 win last season. Three of the singles matches went to tiebreaking third sets, so it could have been a little closer of a score. Caroline Picard, Haley Davinsizer, and Olivia Colby all stepped up in the clutch to win all the third sets to leave little doubt in last season's victory. 

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