LOCKPORT, Ill. - University of St. Francis overcame the absence of a starter out with an illness and defeated visiting Indiana Tech by a 5-4 score in an NAIA women's tennis match at the Lockport High School courts on Saturday afternoon.

USF played without the services of senior Carla Braun (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) who was ill. Sophomore Mary Betzwiser (Plainfield Central H.S./Plainfield, IL) played her first singles and doubles matches of the season for USF to fill in for Braun. Betzwiser lost in both, falling at No. 6 singles and at No. 3 doubles with her partner Barb Koziol (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL).

The other Saints picked up for Braun's absence. Sophomore Danielle Emola (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) and junior Emily Zajda (Joliet Catholic Academy/Plainfield, IL) both won their singles and doubles matches. Emola won at No. 2 singles in straight sets and teamed with sophomore Agnieszka Belza (Nazareth Academy/Chicago, IL) to win at No. 1 doubles. Zajda won easily in straight sets at No. 4 singles and paired with junior Corinne Lutz (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) to get a win at No. 2 doubles. Koziol collected the fifth and deciding USF win when she prevailed in straight sets at No. 5 singles.

Only one match went three sets and that was at No. 3 singles where Belza dropped a long bout after the team match had already been decided. Belza dropped her first set 7-6 (7-3 in the tiebreaker), won her second set in a tiebreaker (7-6 and 7-5) and lost the third set tiebreaker by a 10-7 count.

The Saints improved to 12-7 on the season and kept their hopes alive for an at-large invitation to the NAIA regional tournament in April. USF plays host to Indiana Wesleyan in its next match on April 15.