Ithaca Wins Sixth Straight Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship
Ithaca, N.Y. - The Ithaca women's tennis team (10-0) won its sixth consecutive Empire 8 women's tennis championship with a 5-1 victory over Stevens (11-4) Sunday morning at Reis Tennis Center. The victory earns Ithaca an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships, which will be held in April. The Bombers have won seven of the nine all-time conference tournaments.
Sophomore Cristina Nunez (Morris Hills/Rockaway, N.J.) was named as the tournament's most valuable player after winning at both first doubles and first singles. Cristina teamed with her sister, senior Melissa Nunez (Morris Hills/Rockaway, N.J.) to win 8-1 at first doubles. Cristina was a 6-0, 6-2 winner at first singles. Melissa was a 6-0, 6-1 winner at third singles.
The clinching singles point came from the second singles position, where senior Melanie Cohen (Hatboro-Horsham/Ambler, Pa.) earned a 6-1, 6-4 victory.
The Bombers built a 2-1 lead after the completion of the doubles matches and won the first three singles matches to clinch the conference title. The last three singles matches were not completed once Ithaca secured the clinching team points.
It is the fourth season in a row that the Bombers finished the fall portion of their schedule undefeated in dual matches.
Tennis Match Results
Stevens vs Ithaca
10/24/10 at Ithaca, N.Y.
(Reis Tennis Center)
Ithaca 5, Stevens 1
Singles competition
1. Cristina NUNEZ (IC) def. Allyson Kingman (SIT) 6-0, 6-2
2. Melanie COHEN (IC) def. Nicole Portner (SIT) 6-1, 6-4
3. Melissa NUNEZ (IC) def. Lisa Tessitore (SIT) 6-0, 6-1
4. Allison YOUNG (IC) vs. Kendra Appleheimer (SIT) 6-2, 3-2, unfinished
5. Kelsey HARNESS (IC) vs. Mine Bese (SIT) 6-2, 0-3, unfinished
6. Laurel SALLADAY (IC) vs. Alexandra Handel (SIT) 0-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Cristina NUNEZ/Melissa NUNEZ (IC) def. Allyson Kingman/Nicole Portner (SIT) 8-1
2. Kendra Appleheimer/Lisa Tessitore (SIT) def. Becky CAMPBELL/Melanie COHEN (IC) 8-3
3. Becky GUZZO/Allison YOUNG (IC) def. Mine Bese/Morgan Scalzi (SIT) 8-2
Team Records:
Stevens 11-4
Ithaca 10-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,3,2)