WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 

>>The Saint Francis women’s tennis team lost to Eastern Michigan, 4-2, at the Ebensburgh Tennis Center on Saturday night. 

>>Freshman Gabriela Almanza won her first match of the 2026 spring slate.

>>Sophomore Dasha Chichkina made a tiebreaker comeback to win her second match of the 2026 spring slate.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

While the Red Flash were quiet in doubles, the women ignited their performance in singles. Starting on the first court, underclassman Almanza confidently defeated her opponent, nearly sweeping the first set before securing a complete victory in the second set to give Saint Francis its first point of the day.

Elsewhere on the card, Chichkina dropped her first set 6-3 but brought her next two sets down to the wire, winning both by two points (7-5, 6-4) to improve her overall record to 9-9 for the 2025-26 season.

Although she wasn’t victorious, freshman and team leader in wins, Helena Lynn had a strong rally against her opponent, trading a first-set loss of 2-6 for a second-set victory of 6-4 to force a tiebreaker. However, she ultimately fell in the third and final set, losing 7-5.

NEXT TIME OUT 

The women’s tennis team returns to action Saturday, Jan. 31, as the Red Flash hosts its second match of the season against Colgate in a dual match with the men’s team at the Gorilla House Gym in Altoona, Pa., at noon.

RESULTS  

Singles 


Gabriela Almanza (WSFU) def. Diaz Zayas, Lara (WEMU) 6-1, 6-0



Dasha Chichkina (WSFU) def. Zuleyka, Cylova (WEMU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4



Tolstova, Sabrina (WEMU) def. Helena Lynn (WSFU) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)



Kharadkar, Pehal (WEMU) def. Sophia Cunningham (WSFU) 6-1, 6-2



Gretta Rhodes (WSFU) vs. Mendez Carreno, R. (WEMU) 3-6, 0-5, unfinished



Parreira, Matilde (WEMU) def. Julia Ritchey (WSFU) 6-0, 6-2


Doubles 


Zuleyka, Cylova/Diaz Zayas, Lara (WEMU) def. Helena Lynn/Dasha Chichkina (WSFU) 6-1



Parreira, Matilde/Tolstova, Sabrina (WEMU) def. Gabriela Almanza/Sophia Cunningham (WSFU) 6-2



Julia Ritchey/Gretta Rhodes (WSFU) vs. Mendez Carreno, R./Daneva, Iva (WEMU) 2-5, unfinished



 

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