Stevens Defeats St. John Fisher to Advance to Sunday's E8 Finals
WEST POINT, N.Y. (October 22, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s tennis team defeated St. John Fisher College 5-1 on Saturday at the United States Military Academy to secure a spot in the 2011 Empire 8 Championship match on Sunday against six-time defending champion Ithaca College. Freshmen Danielle Stewart (North Plainfield, N.J.) and Jessica Bourque (Houma, La.) won at both singles and doubles to lead the Ducks.
Stewart and senior Morgan Scalzi (Doylestown, Pa.) got things rolling on Saturday with a dominant 8-1 win at third doubles. Bourque and Lisa Tessitore (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) then got Stevens out to a quick 2-0 lead with an 8-3 win at first doubles. Nicole Portner (Shamong, N.J.) and Mine Bese (Secaucus, N.J.) took Kathryn Pasier (Orchard Park, N.Y.) and Jordan Brungrad (Hornell, N.Y.) deep but ultimately dropped second doubles to the Fisher team 6-8. Still, the Ducks needed just three singles victories to advance.
Stewart was the first one done, winning handily 6-2, 6-0. Bese won shortly thereafter 6-2, 6-1 at fours. Bourque then sealed the Stevens victory with a surgical 6-1, 6-2 win at first singles as the Ducks remain undefeated with an 11-0 dual match record.
All remaining matchups were abandoned after the victory due to tournament rules, though Portner (Second / 6-4, 3-1), Tessitore (Fifth / 6-1, 4-0) and Alexandra Handel (Sparta, N.J.) (Sixth / 1-0) were all leading when the match was officially called off.
Stevens will return to the Malek Courts Sunday morning for the Empire 8 Championship Match with Itahca College at 11 a.m. on the campus of the U.S. Military Academy.