ELMIRA STATS

NAZARETH STATS

STEVENS TECH STATS

Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College women's tennis team welcomes two Empire 8 Conference foes to the Murray Athletic Center this weekend looking to solidify a top-two seed in the upcoming conference tournament. EC begins its weekend against Nazareth College on Saturday, October 4th before hosting Stevens Tech on Sunday, October 5th. Both matches will start at 1:00 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
The Soaring Eagles moved to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in Empire 8 Conference play after defeating Alfred University, 8-1, on September 23rd. EC took two out of three doubles matches, falling 9-8 in a close third doubles contest, before handling the Saxons in the six singles matches to close out the victory. 
 
Series History
EC and Nazareth are quite familiar with one another, having met 20 times since the 2000 season, including six times in the conference tournament. During that 14-year span, the Soaring Eagles have not defeated the Golden Flyers.
 
Elmira and Stevens have played every season since 2007, the year that the Ducks joined the Empire 8 Conference. Prior to 2013, Stevens had won each of the previous six meetings between the two institutions, however, the Soaring Eagles defeated the Ducks, 5-2, last season, snapping their six-match losing streak to Stevens.
 
A Must Win
With a 3-3 record in conference matches, the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College currently sit in fifth place in the Empire 8, half a game behind Alfred University for the fourth and final spot in the Empire 8 Tournament. In order to avoid missing the Conference Tournament for the first time in program history, Nazareth must win both of its remaining matches and also get some help from Utica College on Saturday to get in.
 
Last Time Out
The Ducks of Stevens Tech enter this weekend of Empire 8 matches with an unblemished 8-0 record following their 6-3 win over non-conference Muhlenberg University on October 1st. Stevens took a 2-1 advantage after wins at first and second doubles, then won four of six singles matches, winning at the first, second, fifth, and sixth spots, to clinch the 6-3 victory.
 
Looking Ahead
The dual-match portion of Elmira's regular season comes to a close following this weekend of play, leaving just one individual tournament and the Empire 8 Conference Tournament left on the 2014 schedule. EC will compete in the New York State Women's Tennis Championships, hosted by Ithaca College, beginning on October 10th before traveling to Hoboken, NJ for the Empire 8 Conference Tournament on October 18th and 19th.