BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- University of St. Francis won a hard-fought 5-4 match over rival St. Ambrose University (Iowa) Thursday afternoon but saw its season come to an end a few hours later with a 5-2 loss to No. 29 McKendree University in the NAIA National Tournament Qualifier at Olivet Nazarene University.

The Saints (13-9) dropped two of three doubles matches to St. Ambrose but came back to win four of the six singles bouts and advance to the second round against favored McKendree. 

USF got its first point against the Bees when the No. 3 doubles team of junior Barb Koziol (Reavis H.S./Burbank, IL) and junior Emily Zajda (Joliet Catholic Academy/Plainfield, IL) won by an 8-3 score. The Saints lost a tough 8-6 bout at No. 2 doubles with USF represented by junior Corinne Lutz (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) and senior Carla Braun (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL). SAU won at No. 1 doubles by an 8-4 margin over sophomores Danielle Emola (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) and Agnes Belza (Nazareth Academy/Chicago, IL).

USF secured victories in the bottom four singles sessions to win the match. Belza won in three sets at No. 3, as did Braun at No. 4. Both Zajda at No. 5 and Koziol at No. 6 won easily in straight sets. Belza's and Braun's matches were the final two to conclude, with Braun's deciding match going back and forth in the third and final set.

McKendree was just too strong for USF in the semifinal match. The Bearcats won two of three doubles bouts and three of the four singles matches that were played to conclusion.

USF got a win again at No. 3 doubles from Koziol and Zajda by an 8-4 score. Koziol completed a perfect day for herself with a straight set win at No. 6 singles (6-0, 6-3) for the Saints' other team point.

The 13-9 final record is USF's first winning season since 2001-02 (7-6-1).