LOCKPORT, Ill.---- Grace Monahan's (JR/New Lenox, Ill.) victory at No.6 singles advanced the University of St. Francis women's tennis team to the semifinal round of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament after defeating Olivet Nazarene University in a thrilling 4-3 decision Monday afternoon at Challenge Fitness Indoor Courts.
 

Denisse Lizano (SO/Quito, Ecuador) and Kiana Sikich (FR/Mokena, Ill.) opened up the quarterfinal match with a 6-2 win at No.2 doubles. Despite the early lead, No.3 seed USF would drop two 6-4 decisions at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles allowing the No.6 seeded Tigers to gain the first point of the match.  
 

USF would bounce back in singles play, however. Skikich would cruise to her second win of the day thanks to a 6-0, 6-2 result at the No.4 spot. The next match to finish was at No.5, where Yashleen Kheterpal (SR/Bhilai, India) gained a 6-1, 6-2 decision over ONU's Emily Belschner. Nikkie Christiansen's (JR/Rockford, Ill.) victory at No.2 would be the third straight win for USF and give the hosts a 3-1 lead. 
 

Olivet Nazarene would not go down easily, however, roaring back with victories at the Nos. 1 and 3 slots to tie the contest at three-all. That set the stage for the matchup at No.6 between Monahan and Mia Schwada. Monahan took control early in gaining a 6-3, 6-1 win to send the Saints on to the semifinal round.  
 

USF (5-6) now meets No.2 seed Holy Cross College on Wednesday (April 28) at 6 pm CDT in South Bend, Ind. In their previous matchup this season, Holy Cross came away with a 4-3 victory on March 20.