Women's Tennis | 10/14/2023 5:16:45 PM
HOUGHTON, NY – No. 2 seed Alfred University earned its second league title in program history, defeating No. 4 seed St. John Fisher University, 5-3 in the 2023 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Championship from Houghton University's Kerr-Pegula Field House on Saturday afternoon. Alfred first-year standout Elizabeth Madsen was named the 2023 E8 Women's Tennis Championship Most Valuable Player.
Alfred improved to 13-2 on the season and earned the automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship, which begins May 10. The Saxons earned their second E8 Championship in program history, having also won in 2004.
The Saxons led 2-1 after doubles play. Alfred's top doubles team of Alina Zabihailo and Macy Youngberg rolled to an 8-2 win, while the second doubles squad of Madsen and Abigail Call also won by an 8-2 decision. The Cardinals would get on the board at third doubles, as Madison Galvin and Lily Miller earned an 8-5 win.
Excitement reached a crescendo, as five of the six singles matches ended with 15 minutes of each other. Miller quickly tied the match for the Cardinals with a 6-3, 6-0 win at third singles, while Lilly Renzi gave Fisher a brief 3-2 lead in the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win at second singles.
Alfred's depth would prove to be the difference however, as Allison Windich would even the match at 3-3 with a 6-3, 6-1 win at sixth singles, while Madsen, who earned the decisive point in yesterday's semifinal win, would put the finishing touches on a 4-0 weekend with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Abby Garvey at fourth singles. Moments later, Abigail Call would cement the win for Alfred, earning a 6-4, 6-3 win over Galvin for the fifth and decisive point.
Kathryn Strait of St. John Fisher won the opening set over Zabihailo in a 7-6 tiebreaker at first singles. Zabihailo was leading early in the second set when Alfred won the decisive fifth point.
St. John Fisher dropped to 4-7 on the season.
Both Alfred and St. John Fisher advanced after earning dramatic semifinal victories on Friday at Houghton. The Cardinals earned a 5-4 win over top-seed and defending E8 Champion Hartwick College, while Alfred rallied to defeat No. 3 seed Nazareth University, 5-4.
2023 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship Tournament Schedule
Friday, October 13 - Semifinals (at Houghton University)
No. 4 St. John Fisher University defeated No. 1 Hartwick College, 5-4 –
BOX SCORE
No. 2 Alfred University defeated No. 3 Nazareth College, 5-4 –
BOX SCORE
Saturday, October 14 - Championship (at Houghton University)
No. 2 Alfred defeated No. 4 St. John Fisher, 5-3 –
BOX SCORE
2023 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Elizabeth Madsen, Fr., Alfred
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
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