Saint Francis women's tennis has made history by advancing to the NCAA Division I Tournament, set to compete against Virginia on Saturday, May 2, at 2 p.m. in Charlottesville. This marks the Red Flash's first NCAA Tournament matchup after securing their first NEC women's tennis championship by defeating three teams without losing a point. The squad finished the season with a 16-8 record and a 6-1 conference performance, including a remarkable seven-match winning streak in March. Virginia enters the tournament as an at-large bid following their impressive run as ACC Championship runner-ups.

By the Numbers
  • Saint Francis finished the season with a record of 16-8 and a 6-1 conference record.
  • The team did not concede a point in the NEC championships, defeating opponents by a total score of 3-0 in each matchup.
Yes, But

Although Saint Francis achieved success in the NEC, facing Virginia, a seasoned team with 25 NCAA appearances, presents a significant challenge. Virginia's freshman Katie Rolls boasts a singles record of 27-9 and is ranked 83rd in Division I.

State of Play
  • This is Saint Francis' inaugural entry into the NCAA Tournament.
  • Virginia is making its eighth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance under head coach Sara O'Leary.
What's Next

The winner of the Saint Francis vs. Virginia match will advance to the regional semifinals to compete against the victor of the Liberty vs. Washington matchup.

Bottom Line

Saint Francis has an opportunity to make history in its first NCAA tournament game; however, the Red Flash will need to overcome the experience of a strong Virginia team to progress further.