Stevens Women’s Tennis Avenges Loss Against Naz to Reach E8 Final
Jon McCue
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (October 20, 2012) – The third-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology women’s tennis team knocked off second-seed Nazareth College 5-3 on Saturday in the Empire 8 Semifinal. The Ducks took revenge for a season-opening defeat at the hands of the Golden Flyers and will face Ithaca College in the Empire 8 Championship Match on Sunday.
Each doubles matchup was tight. Nazareth won at first doubles just like it did in the match in September, while Julia Guignard (Lowville, N.Y.) and Danielle Stewart (North Plainfield, N.J.) won 8-6 at second doubles in line with September’s results as well. Where Stevens picked up a point was at third doubles; Lexie Handel (Sparta, N.J.) and Nathalie Tran (Livingston, N.J.) earned an 8-6 victory and gave the Ducks the 2-1 lead heading into singles play.
Stewart and Lisa Tessitore (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) were the lynchpins of the Stevens win at singles. Stewart fell at third singles in September but rallied on Saturday for an integral 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (9-7) postseason victory against Nazareth. Tessitore battled for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win at second singles to ensure a Stevens victory after Jessica Bourque (Houma, La.) won handily at first singles.
The Ducks will be back in action on Sunday in the Empire 8 Championship Match at 11 a.m. It will be the fourth-straight season Stevens and Ithaca have played for the league title. The Bombers have won seven-straight conference championships and appeared in the championship match of every Empire 8 Tournament in history.
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Singles competition
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1. Jessica Bourque (SITW) def. Alison Tepas (NAZARETH) 6-2, 6-2
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2. Lisa Tessitore (SITW) def. Alex Vizgaitis (NAZARETH) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
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3. Danielle Stewart (SITW) def. Christine Cary (NAZARETH) 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (9-7)
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4. Cara Yinger (NAZARETH) def. Julia Guignard (SITW) 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-0
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5. Alexandra Handel (SITW) vs. Ami Petosa (NAZARETH) no result
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6. Krista Pagan (NAZARETH) def. Nathalie Tran (SITW) 6-3, 6-3
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Doubles competition
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1. Alison Tepas/Alex Vizgaitis (NAZARETH) def. Jessica Bourque/Lisa Tessitore (SITW) 8-5
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2. Julia Guignard/Danielle Stewart (SITW) def. Christine Cary/Cara Yinger (NAZARETH) 8-6
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3. Alexandra Handel/Nathalie Tran (SITW) def. Ami Petosa/Krista Pagan (NAZARETH) 8-6
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Match Notes
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Stevens Ducks 7-3
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Nazareth 6-3
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Empire 8 Conference Tournament semifinals
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