NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Freshman Katie Kipping (Newman Central Catholic H.S./Dixon, IL) easily won both of her matches at No. 1 singles to lead University of St. Francis to a split of two matches at the Ranchview Park Courts on Saturday afternoon.

USF (3-1) defeated Illinois Wesleyan, 6-3, in its first match of the afternoon and then dropped a 5-2 match to host North Central College in a contest that was shortened due to darkness.

Kipping, who is unbeaten in four collegiate singles matches, defeated her foe from Illinois Wesleyan by scores of 6-4 and 6-1. She had an even easier time against North Central, beating the Cardinals' No. 1 player by scores of 6-1 and 6-1.

Sophomore No. 4 player Agnieszka Belza (Nazareth Academy/Chicago, IL) also won both of her singles matches on the day, sweeping her opponents by scores of 6-0 and 6-2 vs. IWU and 6-0 and 6-3 against North Central. Belza is also unbeaten for the season in singles with a 4-0 mark in counting matches.

Three other Saints won their singles bouts against IWU. Sophomore Danielle Emola (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Frankfort, IL) won in straight sets (6-1, 7-6) at No. 3. Senior Carla Braun (Lincoln-Way Central H.S./New Lenox, IL) came from behind at No. 5 singles to win her bout in three sets (6-7, 7-6, 10-4) and junior Barb Koziol (Queen of Peace H.S./Burbank, IL) won at No. 6 in straight sets (6-3, 6-3).

USF won just one of three doubles matches vs. IWU, with Koziol and junior Corinne Lutz (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) winning by an 8-1 score at the No. 3 slot.

The wins by Kipping and Belza were USF's only successes against North Central.

The Saints play host to Benedictine on Wednesday afternoon. The match will be played at the Challenge Fitness courts in Lockport and is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.