No. 21 Stevens Captures Seventh Straight E8 Title
EDGEWATER, N.J. – The No. 21 Stevens Institute of Technology men's tennis team captured its seventh consecutive Empire 8 Conference Championship, and clinched its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance Sunday with a 5-1 win over Ithaca College in Edgewater.
The win moved top-seeded Stevens to 18-7, while second-seeded Ithaca's season ends at 13-6. The NCAA appearance will be the seventh in-a-row for Stevens, and ninth in the last 10 seasons. Senior Ben Foran was named the championship's most valuable player.
The Ducks will find out their NCAA seeding with Monday's release at noon.
Seniors doubles aces Matthew Heinrich and Foran gave Stevens the early lead with an 8-3 win at first, followed soon after by an 8-3 victory for sophomore Kyle Henry and freshmanKyle Cenderelli at second.
The win moved Heinrich/Foran to a team-leading 17-2, while Henry/Cenderelli moved its record to 5-2.
Stevens senior Jacob Thigpen and freshman Divin Sarthak held the early lead at third, but Ithaca made a late comeback before taking the victory in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (5).
Ithaca's match momentum didn't last long as freshman David Schulz moved the Ducks closer to the win with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at sixth, followed just after by a 6-2, 6-0 win for Foran at fourth. Heinrich followed that up less than 10 minutes later with the match clincher at first in the form of a 6-2, 6-1 win.
The victory was the fifth of the season for Schulz over an E8 opponent, while Heinrich and Foran each moved their season singles records to 14-2.
To access the press release announcing the 2016 NCAA field, click here.
1. Matthew Heinrich/Ben Foran (STEVENS) def. Chris Hayes/Wes Davis (ITHACA) 8-3
2. Kyle Henry/Kyle Cenderelli (STEVENS) def. Lorenzo Viguie-Ramos/Stefan Lazarevic (ITHACA) 8-3
3. Michael Gardiner/Nate Wolf (ITHACA) def. Jacob Thigpen/Divin Sarthak (STEVENS) 9-8
1. Matthew Heinrich (STEVENS) def. Michael Gardiner (ITHACA) 6-2, 6-1
2. Danny Polk (STEVENS) vs. Chris Hayes (ITHACA) 6-0, unfinished
3. Charles Drake (STEVENS) vs. Wes Davis (ITHACA) unfinished
4. Ben Foran (STEVENS) def. Nate Wolf (ITHACA) 6-2, 6-0
5. Kyle Henry (STEVENS) vs. Brandon Buksbaum (ITHACA) 6-0, unfinished
6. David Schulz (STEVENS) def. Lorenzo Viguie-Ramos (ITHACA) 6-2, 6-0