Women's Tennis | 10/16/2021 4:11:00 PM
HOUGHTON, NY -- Top-seeded Nazareth rallied to take four singles points Saturday against second-seeded Hartwick as the Golden Flyers captured the 2021 Empire 8 Conference title in women's tennis for the second time in just over six months with a 5-3 triumph over the Hawks at Houghton's Kerr-Pegula Field House on Oct. 16. Nazareth sophomore Aliya Guzman was named the 2021 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship Most Valuable Player.
The Golden Flyers, who also claimed the title last spring and have won three times in the past five seasons, improved to 9-1 overall with their second win of the year over the Hawks. Nazareth has now won six Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championships in program history. Nazareth also gained an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament, which will be contested in May of 2022.
Hartwick (9-3) jumped out to the 2-1 lead after doubles play. Guzman and Claire Pullen of Nazareth combined for an 8-3 win at the first flight, but Hartwick's Ryann Ashby and Valerie Kohberger defeated Nazareth duo of Lily Bulkeley and Lauren Carr 8-3 and Colleen Marsh and Jessica Sexton combined to beat Nazareth's third doubles group of Gwen Burns and Theresa Hecht by a score of 8-5.
Nazareth took control of the match by winning four singles points in convincing fashion as each player won matches in straight sets.
Guzman and Pullen won matches at first and second singles respectively. Guzman defeated Hartwick's Jade Killikelly 6-4, 6-3 and Pullen won 6-1, 6-2 over Ashhy.
Bulkeley and Katelyn Spath also won at fourth and sixth singles respectively. Bulkeley took down VKohberger 6-2, 6-2 and Spath won 6-2, 6-0 over Sexton. In addition, senior Carr was winning her third singles match before the match was halted when Nazareth clinched the title.
Both teams advanced to the E8 Championship match after semifinal wins on Friday. Nazareth rallied late to defeat No. 4 seed Houghton, 5-4, while Hartwick earned a 5-1 win over No. 3 seed St. John Fisher.
Guzman, who also won singles and doubles matches on Friday in Nazareth's win over Houghton, was named Tournament MVP. She was also named the Empire 8 Player and Rookie of the Year last season.
2021 Empire 8 Tournament Schedule
Semifinals - Friday, October 15 at Houghton
No. 1 Nazareth defeated No. 4 Houghton, 5-4 -- BOX SCORE
No. 2 Hartwick defeated No. 3 St. John Fisher, 5-1 -- BOX SCORE
Championship - Saturday, October 16 at Houghton
No. 1 Nazareth defeated No. 2 Hartwick, 5-3 -- BOX SCORE
2021 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship Most Valuable Player
Aliya Guzman, So., Nazareth (2-0 at first singled and first doubles)