NOTRE DAME, Ind. --- The University of St. Francis women's tennis team closed out regular-season play with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Holy Cross College in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference competition on Tuesday afternoon.  The win came against a Holy Cross team that was one of two remaining unbeatens in league play. 

Holy Cross (9-7, 4-1 CCAC) closes out its regular season on Saturday against first-place Cardinal Stritch (9-6, 5-0).  USF would need a Cardinal Stritch win there to lock up the No. 2 seed in next week's CCAC Tournament.  That would also mean an opening-round bye in the six-team event.

Should the three teams tie for first place, combined individual match scores amongst the teams would be used to determine the seeding.

The Fighting Saints (12-7, 5-1) had to battle all the way back after being swept in doubles play by 6-2, 6-4 and 6-1 counts and dropping their first two singles matches in the Nos. 5 and 6 spots.

Gabriella Noa recorded USF's first win of the day with her 6-4, 6-0 victory at No. 2.  That was followed by Denisse Lizano's 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 4.

The Saints then tied the contest up at three-all when Lieke Coenen earned a 1-6, 6-0, 6-4 come-from-behind win over Helga Lopez in the No. 3 slot.

That set up the finale between USF's Anna Bintsarovskaya and Holy Cross' Victoria Savvides in the No. 1 position.  The former completed the Saints' rally with her tight 7-6, (7-4), 7-6 (7-3) win.

St. Francis will open the CCAC Tournament either next Monday or Wednesday depending upon the final seeding.

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