The Saint Francis University women’s tennis team faced a challenging weekend, narrowly losing a 4-3 decision to Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) on Sunday, February 16th, at the Hershey Tennis Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Red Flash had previously defeated Lafayette University 4-3.
The match against FDU saw Saint Francis secure the doubles point, with Kelly Dowuona and Gabriela Almanza winning 6-4, and Sophia Cunningham and Emma Marais prevailing 7-5. In singles play, Dowuona achieved her 71st career victory in a three-set match, while Reagen Mangan secured a point with a 7-6 (11-9) win in a third-set tiebreak. Despite the strong showing, the Red Flash fell short in the overall match.
Assistant Head Coach Philip Palko highlighted the team’s performance in the doubles competition, noting a “huge approach-from-behind effort” from Cunningham and Marais. He similarly praised the energy and excitement of the match.
Head Coach Eric Hovan emphasized the team’s recent intensity, following matches against Bucknell and FDU. He celebrated the team’s 5-2 road victory over Bucknell, marking their first win at that location. Hovan also expressed pride in the team’s competitiveness against FDU, stating they proved the matchup was “winnable” and hoped for another opportunity in the NEC Tournament.
The Saint Francis women’s tennis team is preparing for upcoming challenges, with Coach Hovan noting the team is “improving each match and doing a great job of supporting one another.”
Senior Kelly Dowuona currently holds the program record for combined wins and singles victories, with 59 singles wins as of February 9th, bringing her career total to 71. Dowuona’s 24 singles wins last season tied the second-most in a single season in program history.
The team has also welcomed four first-year players: Gabriela Almanza, Helena Lynn, Emma Marais, and Julia Ritchey. The doubles team of Sophia Cunningham and Emma Marais earned national recognition from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on November 25, 2025, becoming the program’s first nationally ranked doubles team after a 6-1 fall record. As of February 21, 2026, they remain the only NEC doubles team nationally ranked during the 2025-26 season.
Saint Francis is scheduled to face Lehigh University, a team they have faced 10 times previously, with Lehigh winning nine of those matches. Lehigh finished the 2025 season with a 12-8 record, falling in the championship match to Army. The Mountain Hawks return eight players from last year’s squad, including sophomore Maggie Forkner, who posted a 10-5 record.
