Top-seeded Ithaca College will host the Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Championship Saturday and Sunday at Cornell’s Reis Tennis Center. The winner of the tournament captures the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship in the spring.
The Bombers have won the last five conference titles, all three conference tournaments, and 43 consecutive regular season Empire 8 matches. Ithaca (7-0 conference, 8-0 overall) meets fourth-seeded Nazareth College (5-3, 5-5) in one semifinal, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on the indoor courts. The Bombers won 9-0 when the teams met on Oct. 9.
The other semifinal features second-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology (9-3, 7-1) facing third-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology (10-2, 6-2). The match will also be played at 2:30 p.m. on the outdoor courts (weather permitting) or on the indoor courts in case of inclement weather. The Tigers won a thrilling 5-4 decision over the Ducks in the conference season-opener for both squads.
The semifinal winners will meet in the championship match Sunday at 9 a.m. The match is scheduled for the outdoor courts, but would be moved indoors at the same time in case of inclement weather.