Women's Tennis | 8/27/2025 11:00:00 AM
Hartwick College will look to repeat as Empire 8 Champions, as the 2025 season gets underway on Aug. 28 and league play begins on Sept. 6.
The top six teams will advance to the E8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with quarterfinal action on Tuesday, Oct. 14 or Wednesday, Oct. 15, semifinal round matches on Friday Oct. 17, and the championship the next day on Saturday, Oct. 18. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2025-26 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
2025 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Players to Watch
(Sorted Alphabetically by Institution)
Alfred University - Head Coach Jake Fisler
Becca Epping, So., Mitchell, IN/Bedford North Lawrence - Epping, a 2024 All-Empire 8 third team doubles selection, won three singles matches in conference play in 2024. She went 4-4 in doubles conference play in the first and second singles positions.
Elizabeth Madsen, Jr., Portland, OR/Grant - Madsen, the 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, earned All-E8 first team singles and second team doubles and was the Empire 8 Tournament MVP ithat season.
SUNY Brockport - Head Coach Ed Gonzalez
Olivia Chiu, Sr., Fillmore, NY/Fillmore - Chiu played in the second and third positions in doubles play in 2024-25. She will be expected to be a contributor this upcoming season.
Olivia Raschiatore, Sr, Rochester, NY/East Rochester - Raschiatore, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, will be counted on to be a leader for the Golden Eagles this season.
SUNY Geneseo - Head Coach Alan Heverly
Natalie Pipes, Jr., Victor, NY/Victor - Pipes, along with Samantha Rava, were 2024-25 All-Empire 8 third team doubles selections. In singles, Pipes went 3-0 in conference play in the first position. In doubles, her and Rava went 1-1 in conference play in first position.
Samantha Rava, Jr., Fairport, NY/Fairport - Rava, along with Natalie Pipes, were 2024-25 All-Empire 8 third team doubles selections. In singles, Rava went 3-0 in conference play in the second position. In doubles, her and Rava went 1-1 in conference play in first position.
Hartwick College - Head Coach Samantha Butcher
Samantha Lantzy, So., Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane - Lantzy, in her debut season, earned an E8 first team All-Conference nod in singles. Along with Lily Vanuga, Lantzy earned All-E8 second team honors in doubles. She went 8-0 in conference play in singles and 6-0 in doubles with Vanuga.
Lily Vanuga, Sr., Springville, NY/Springville-Griffith Institute - Vanuga, a two-time All-E8 third team singles and 2022 second team selection, and a two-time second team doubles pick. She went 5-2 in conference singles matches and 6-0 in doubles with Lantzy. Vanuga was also the 2024 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Tournament MVP.
Houghton University - Head Coach Matthew Webb
Clancy Cockle, Sr., Fillmore, NY/Fillmore - In 2024-25, Cockle won three conference singles matches rotating at the second and third positions. In doubles, she won five matches overall.
Arija Grant, Sr., Kennebunk, ME/Kennebunk - Grant, a three-time E8 Player to Watch, is expected to rise in the positions for the 2025-26 season.
Nazareth University - Head Coach Paul Waida
Kenna Ellis, Jr., Auburn, NY/Skaneateles - Ellis, an All-E8 second team selection in both singles and doubles in 2024 and a second team singles and first team doubles in 2023, went 5-2 in conference singles and 6-1 in conference doubles this past season.
Catherine Zak, Sr., Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury - Zak, a three-time Player to Watch, earned All-Empire 8 first team singles and first team doubles accolades in 2023 in addition to earning All-E8 second team singles selection in 2022. In 2024, along with Kenna Ellis, was an All-E8 first team doubles and a second team singles selection.
Russell Sage College - Head Coach Taylor Gillespie
Tirzah Spivey, Sr., Clifton Park, NY/Schenectady - Spivey, a 2024 All-Empire 8 first team singles and doubles selection, 2023 All-E8 first team singles selection 2022 All-E8 second team singles pick, went 5-1 at first singles in E8 play during the 2023 season. She is also a two-time E8 Player to Watch.
St. John Fisher University - Head Coach Jason Byam
Lily Miller, Jr., Skaneateles, NY/Skaneateles - Miller, a 2023 All-Empire 8 second team selection in singles and a third team pick in doubles, finished 9-5 overall in 2024 and 6-2 in conference play.
Lilly Renzi, Sr., Watertown, NY/Watertown - Renzi earned 2023 All-E8 second team accolades for singles. In 2024, she went 6-6 overall and 3-3 in conference singles.
Utica University - Head Coach John Nigro
Victoria Elefante, Sr., Clinton, NY/Clinton - Elefante is expected to move up in positions for the Pioneers. She will be looked at as a leader for the Pioneers in 2025.
Lyndsey Tiedmann, Sr., Salt Point, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt - Tiedemann, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, will be counted on to play a greater role in 2025.
Final 2024 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Standings
Hartwick (14-4, 8-0 E8) - League Champions
Geneseo (8-5, 7-1 E8)
Nazareth (10-11, 6-2 E8)
Russell Sage (8-6, 5-3 E8)
St. John Fisher (4-10, 4-4 E8)
Brockport (3-10, 3-5 E8)
Alfred (3-15, 2-6 E8)
Houghton (1-15, 1-7 E8)
Utica (0-11, 0-8 E8)
2024 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Tournament Recap
First Round
No. 4 Russell Sage College defeated No. 5 St. John Fisher University, 5-2 -- BOX SCORE
No. 3 Nazareth University defeated No. 6 SUNY Brockport, 5-0 -- BOX SCORE
Semifinals
No. 1 Hartwick College defeated No. 4 Russell Sage, 5-1 -- BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 3 Nazareth, 5-4 -- BOX SCORE
Championship
No. 1 Hartwick defeated No. 2 SUNY Geneseo, 5-0 – BOX SCORE
2024 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Lily Vanuga, Hartwick
2024 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Award Winners
- Phoebe Olson, Hartwick, Sr., Jamestown, ND/Jamestown - 2024 Empire 8 Doubles Team of the Year, 2023 Empire 8 Player of the Year, 2022 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year
- Elizabeth Madsen, Alfred, Jr., Portland, OR/Grant - 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, 2023 Empire 8 Tournament Most Valuable Player
- Lily Vanuga, Hartwick, Sr., Springville, NY/Springville-Griffith Institute - 2024 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Tournament Most Valuable Player