Women's Tennis | 10/17/2025 5:11:18 PM
ONEONTA, NY – No. 1 seed Hartwick College and No. 2 seed SUNY Geneseo will meet for the 2025 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Championship after earning semifinal victories on Friday from Wilbur Tennis Park. The Hawks earned a 4-0 win over No. 5 seed Alfred University, while Geneseo defeated No. 3 seed Nazareth University, also by a 4-0 score. The 2025 Empire 8 Championship will take place at Wilbur Park at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The winner of Saturday’s Empire 8 Championship match will earn the automatic bid into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship, which begins May 8. Hartwick enters the E8 Championship match with an 12-2 mark, while SUNY Geneseo is 9-2.
Hartwick is looking to earn its second straight Empire 8 Championship and third in the last four years, while Geneseo is in the title match for the second straight season. It is a rematch of the 2024 Empire 8 Championship, which Hartwick won by a score of 5-0. Earlier in the regular season, Hartwick won in a league matchup between the two institutions, 5-2 on Sept. 6.
NO. 1 HARTWICK 4, NO. 5 ALFRED 0
The Hawks moved to 12-2 on the season, winning two quick doubles matches before ending the contest with three straight-set singles wins.
Samantha Lantzy and Lily Vanuga got the Hawks right on the board with an 6-1win at second doubles over Alyssa Seegert and Rebecca Epping of Alfred. Hartwick’s first doubles duo of Phoebe Olson and Gianna Leggieri earned a 6-2 win at the first spot over Elizabeth Madsen and Alina Zabihailo.
In singles play, Leggieri earned a 6-0, 6-0 win over Allison Windisch at the fifth spot, before Lantzy defeated Zabihailo at first singles and Maggie Van Valkenburgh defeated Epping, 6-3, 6-0 at fourth singles.
Alfred, who won the 2023 Empire 8 Championship, fell to 10-5 on the season. The Saxons advanced to the semifinals after defeating No. 4 St. John Fisher, 4-2 on Tuesday in opening round action.
NO. 2 SUNY GENESEO 4, NO. 3 NAZARETH 0
SUNY Geneseo advanced to the Empire 8 Championship for the second time in two seasons as a league member, as the No. 2 seed Knights recorded a 4-0 win over No. 3 Nazareth in the second E8 semifinal. This was a rematch of the 2024 E8 Semifinal, in which Geneseo took by a 5-4 decision.
Geneseo won the doubles point, taking control at first and second doubles, scoring the final three points in each match to take consecutive 6-3 decisions. Natalie Pipes and JoAnn Catalano earned the win over Kenna Ellis and Catherine Zak at first doubles, while Samantha Rava and Rachel Malloy defeated Victoria Cioni and Anna Spencer at second doubles.
In singles play, Geneseo’s depth reigned supreme, as the Knights earned decisive points at fourth, fifth, and sixth singles. Ashleigh Fredricksen earned a 6-0, 6-0 win over Isabella Iannitti at the sixth spot, while Catalano defeated Cioni, 6-2, 6-0 at fourth singles. Lauren Levatino secured the win for Geneseo, defeating Paige Masrouri of Nazareth, 6-2, 6-2 at fifth singles.
The Golden Flyers fell to 8-5 on the season. Nazareth advanced to the E8 Semifinals after defeating No. 6 Houghton University, 4-0 in opening round action on Tuesday.
For the most up to date information on this year's championship, follow the Empire 8 Conference on X and Instagram (@Empire8).
2025 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship Schedule
Tuesday, October 14 – First Round (at Higher Seed – both matches at Nazareth)
No. 3 Nazareth University defeated No. 6 Houghton University, 4-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 5 Alfred University defeated No. 4 St. John Fisher University, 4-2 – BOX SCORE
Friday, October 17 – Semifinals at (hosted by Hartwick College)
Outdoor – Wilbur Park, Albert Morris Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820
No. 1 Hartwick College defeated No. 5 Alfred, 4-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 3 Nazareth, 4-0 – BOX SCORE
Saturday, October 18 – Championship at (hosted by Hartwick College)
Wilbur Park, Albert Morris Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo at No. 1 Hartwick – 2 p.m. – LIVE SCORING/VIDEO