Men's Tennis | 4/29/2023 5:52:41 PM
Top-seeded Houghton took all three doubles matches and to begin the match and never looked back, second-seeded Nazareth, 5-0, in the championship match of the 2023 Empire 8 Conference Men's Tennis Tournament at the Kerr-Pegula Fieldhouse on Saturday, April 29.
The Highlanders defeated the Golden Flyers for the third time this season to improve to 15-6 overall and to secure their second E8 Championship in the last three seasons. Nazareth, the defending league champions, finished its season at 11-5 overall. Houghton also gained an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Tournament. The NCAA selections and tournament schedule will be announced on May 1, First round action begins on May 5.
Houghton's Micah Schilke was named the 2023 Empire 8 Men's Tennis Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player after earning a win at second doubles and the clinching point win at second singles.
At first doubles, Houghton's duo of Jaimie Staerkle and Levi Webb opened the scoring with an 8-3 win over Nazareth's Nathan Allen and Chris Benedict. The Highlanders went up 2-0 after the second doubles team of Micah Schilke and Marcelo Garcia earned an 8-6 win over Dominic Vito and Max Funicello. Nolan Zach and Matt Cicero made it a clean sweep in doubles at the third position with an 8-6 victory over Isiah McMurray and Pierre Ntonga.
The Highalnders came a step closer to clinching after Zach picked up a 6-2, 6-3 win at fourth singles. Schilke would clinch the title with a 6-3, 6-1 win at second singles.
2023 Empire 8 Men's Tennis Championship Schedule
Friday, April 28 – Semifinals (at Houghton University)
No. 1 Houghton University defeats No. 4 Utica University, 5-0 by default
No. 2 Nazareth College defeats No. 3 St. John Fisher University, 5-1 - BOX SCORE
Saturday, April 29 – Championship (at Houghton University)
No. 1 Houghton defeats No. 2 Nazareth, 5-0
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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