Women's Tennis | 10/17/2026 6:53:00 PM
HOUGHTON, NY - The SUNY Geneseo women's tennis team defeated Alfred 4-0 on Saturday from the Kerr-Pegula Field House on the campus of Houghton University to win the 2026 Empire 8 championship, the program's first conference title since 2017 and 12th overall. The Knights cap off an undefeated season with the title, and improve to 13-0. Alfred, the No. 6 seed, fell to 8-7 overall.
Geneseo secured the doubles point with wins at the top two flights. Natalie Pipes and JoAnn Catalano won 6-2 at first doubles over Alyssa Seegert and Becca Epping, and Samantha Rava and Rachel Molloy followed with a 6-1 win at second doubles over Camryn Moore and Elizabeth Madsen. Third doubles was unfinished, with Lauren Levatino and Talia Wutz leading 3-2.
The Knights then won the three singles matches needed to clinch the title. Pipes won 6-2, 6-0 at first singles over Seegert, Rava won 6-0, 6-1 at second singles over Epping, and Molloy won 6-2, 6-0 at third singles, defeating Madsen. Three other flights were unfinished when the match was clinched. Catalano won the first set 6-2 at fourth singles and trailed 2-1 in the second, and Levatino won the first set 6-0 at fifth singles and led 3-2 in the second. Wutz dropped the first set 6-4 at sixth singles and led 1-0 in the second.
Pipes, who has led the way for Geneseo all season, was named 2026 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship Most Valuable Player. Geneseo, the No. 1 seed advanced to the Empire 8 Championship match after shutting out No. 4 Nazareth on Friday.
Alfred became the first No. 6 seed to advance to the Empire 8 Championship match. The Saxons defeated No. 3 seed Hartwick College, 4-3 on Tuesday and knocked off No. 2 seed St. John Fisher University, 4-2 on Friday.
Geneseo earns the Empire 8's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, which will take place in May, 2027.