WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The quest for back-to-back Presidents' Athletic Conference titles fell a point short on Saturday for the Washington & Jefferson College women's tennis team. Second-seeded Franciscan University of Steubenville edged No. 4 seed W&J by a 5-4 score in the championship match at the Janet Swanson Tennis Center.

W&J trailed by a 2-1 score after doubles competition. Bella Goldman (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) and Lisha Chadda (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern) recorded an 8-5 victory at the No. 3 spot for the Presidents.

Julia Schaffer (Edensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) tied the match score at 2-2 with a straight sets victory at No. 6 singles. The senior won by set scores of 6-1, 6-1. Franciscan took a 4-2 lead after straight set wins at No. 3 and No. 4 spots.

Facing must wins in the final three decisions, the Presidents posted a victory at the No. 5 spot as Libby Conlon (Renfrew, Pa./Knoch) won by a 7-5, 6-4 score. Maya Krishnasamy (Ventura, Calif./Ventura) battled for a three set victory at the No. 1 singles spot to even the match at 4-4.  Krishnasamy won the first set 7-6 (7-4) before dropping the second set by a 6-3 score. Krishnasamy edged her opponent by a 6-4 score in the third set.

The match and championship was decided came down to the No. 2 singles spot where Goldman battled into a third set. The sophomore dropped a tough first set in a tiebreaker by a 7-6 (7-5) score. Goldman coasted to a 6-2 decision in the second set to force a decisive third set. Franciscan's Ana Victoria Haddad was able to win by a 6-2 score to give Franciscan its first PAC title.

W&J finishes the spring with a 4-3 overall record. Franciscan improves to 8-2.
 
Singles Competition
1. Maya Krishnasamy (WJC) def. Maria Herrera (FRA) 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4
2. Ana Victoria Haddad (FRA) def. Bella Goldman (WJC) 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-2
3. Zoey Stapleton (FRA) def. Victoria Wilson (WJC) 6-1, 6-1
4. Caroline Picard (FRA) def. Jaelyn Kennedy (WJC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Libby Conlon (WJC) def. Susan Schuberg (FRA) 7-5, 6-4
6. Julia Schaffer (WJC) def. Alyce Davis (FRA) 6-1, 6-1
 
Doubles Competition
1. Maria Herrera/Ana Victoria Haddad (FRA) def. Maya Krishnasamy/Julia Schaffer (WJC) 8-2
2. Zoey Stapleton/Susan Schuberg (FRA) def. Jaelyn Kennedy/Libby Conlon (WJC) 8-3
3. Bella Goldman/Lisha Chadda (WJC) def. Caroline Picard/Alyce Davis (FRA) 8-5