LOCKPORT, Ill. --- Freshman Katie Kipping (Newman Central Catholic H.S./Sterling, IL) suffered her first collegiate defeat in a dual match and USF, as a team, lost individual matches at home for the first time this season, but it still did not derail the Fighting Saints as they won for the fourth time in a row and the fifth straight time at home defeating St. Ambrose University (Iowa), 7-2, on Friday afternoon.

Coming into the contest, head coach Ralph Kwilosz's club had won each of its previous four matches at the Challenge Fitness Tennis Courts by 9-0 counts.

Kipping's first singles match loss in 12 decisions at the collegiate level was offset by five other singles victories and two more on the doubles circuit. That included two wins each from senior Carla Braun (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL), junior Barb Koziol (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) and sophomore Agnieszka Belza (Nazareth Academy/Chicago, IL).

Braun and Koziol teamed up for an 8-3 win in the No. 3 slot, the same margin of victory for Belza and junior Emily Zajda (Joliet Catholic Academy/Plainfield, IL) at No. 2.

Koziol remained red hot in singles play, as well, improving to 10-1 on the season in dual matches with her decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory in the No. 6 position.

Belza and Braun also had sound victories at Nos. 4 and 5 singles, winning 6-2, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-4, respectively.

Junior Corinne Lutz's (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) No. 3 singles match was the only one to go three sets on the day, where she prevailed 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.

USF's other singles win came from sophomore Danielle Emola (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL), a 7-5, 6-3 nod at No. 2.

The Saints (9-3) return to action next Wednesday facing Olivet Nazarene University in a makeup match at Bourbonnais, Ill. First serve is at 3:30 p.m.