Box Score

Hoboken, NJ -- The Elmira College women's tennis team (6-2, 5-2 E8) closed out their regular season in impressive fashion, traveling to Hoboken, NJ and knocking off perennial Empire 8 powerhouse, Stevens Tech 5-3. With the win, the Soaring Eagles are now tied for second in the Empire 8 Conference at 5-2 and have clinched a berth into the conference tournament.

The start of the match was delayed due to inclement weather, but after relocating indoors, doubles action got underway. Stevens took a 1-0 lead after winning 8-0 at first doubles. EC, however, would bounce right back and even the match when Ellen Plowman '16 and Kristi Chanda '17 would walk off the court with an 8-5 victory at third doubles. The advantage going into singles came down to the close second doubles match. Leading 7-6, Ayaka Yoshino '16 and Danielle Levine '17 would hold strong as they defeated the second doubles team from Stevens 8-6 and gave Elmira a 2-1 advantage heading into singles.

The Purple and Gold only needed three of the six women on the court to win their singles matches to clinch the victory. EC gained a 3-1 edge when Stephanie Tock '16, who had already won her first set, closed out a 7-6 second set with a 7-5 score in the tiebreaker. Stevens was able to tie up the match at three a piece shortly after as they would win at first and third singles, but Plowman did her job at the sixth position, winning 6-4, 7-6 (1), and put Elmira back in the driver's seat.

With the match on the line, it would come down to Yoshino and Kayla Fitzgerald '15 at second and fourth singles respectively. Yoshino had not lost in a dual-match setup since September 5th, but found herself in a battle as her match had gone into a third set. She did not have to finish her third set however, as it was Fitzgerald who would put the nail in the coffin and clinch the match for the Soaring Eagles, taking care of her opponent with an easy 6-1, 6-0 victory. 

The 5-3 win marks the first victory EC has had in the seven year history of this matchup as Stevens had beaten the Soaring Eagles every year since becoming an Empire 8 member college in 2007. 

With the conclusion of their regular season, Elmira will participate in the New York State Women's Tennis Championships this weekend, October 11th and 12th, before the Empire 8 Conference tournament the following weekend.

Singles Competition
1. Jessica Bourque (STEVENS) def. Amy Schmidt (EC) 6-0, 6-0
2. Lisa Tessitore (STEVENS) vs. Ayaka Yoshino (EC) 3-6, 6-4, 2-3, unfinished
3. Danielle Stewart (STEVENS) def. Danielle Levine (EC) 6-0, 6-1
4. Kayla Fitzgerald (EC) def. Allie Masciane (STEVENS) 6-1, 6-0
5. Stephanie Tock (EC) def. Jillian Morneau (STEVENS) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Ellen Plowman (EC) def. Lily Bruenjes (STEVENS) 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)

Doubles Competition
1. Bourque/Tessitore (STEVENS) def. Schmidt/Fitzgerald (EC) 8-0
2. Levine/Yoshino (EC) def. Stewart/Elena Cocineva (STEVENS) 8-6
3. Kristi Chanda/Plowman (EC) def. Masciane/Bruenjes (STEVENS) 8-5