Pine Valley, NY -- The Elmira College men's tennis team earned their way into next week's Empire 8 Conference Tournament with a 6-3 victory over Nazareth College in their regular season finale. The postseason berth is EC's first since the tournament format changed from eight teams to four teams in 2008. The Soaring Eagles improved their overall record to 8-5 and their Empire 8 record to 5-3, both of which are the best any Elmira team has produced in over 15 years.
 
In addition to clinching their first Empire 8 Tournament berth in eight years, history was made today by Satchal Waters '16. Waters entered today's match tied with former teammate Sam Pine'14 with 25 career doubles wins. He and partner, Keith Bujak'15, defeated their Nazareth opponent, 8-4, at first doubles to give Waters his 26th career doubles victory. Waters also moved into a tie for second place for career single wins after a straight-set victory at second singles.
 
The doubles matches were closely contested, but EC would prevail in two of the three to take a 2-1 advantage into singles play. Waters and Bujak jumped out to a 5-2 lead in their first doubles match and pulled away for the 8-4 win. Elmira's Austin Mansell'16 and Chris Konow'18 fell to their opponents at second doubles, 8-4, but the Soaring Eagles would break the tie when Patrick Tracey'18 and Yaniv Kogan'18 closed-out their 8-5 win at third doubles.
 
After a quick regroup, the Purple and Gold took the court for singles looking to clinch their win. Waters was the first to finish as he dominated Matt Jennings in a 6-2, 6-2 win. Next off the court was Mansell who, despite increased competition from his opponent in the second set, prevailed 6-1, 6-4 to make it 4-2.
 
Needing just one point and with three matches on the court, the Soaring Eagles looked to Konow, Tracey, and Kogan for the clinching point. Konow, like Mansell, rolled in the first set, winning 6-1. He also jumped out to a 4-1 lead in second set, his opponent would rally to make it 5-4 in favor of the freshman. Konow, with the ball on his racket, held serve and clinched the match for EC.
 
With the match in hand, Elmira looked to add to their win total with Tracey and Kogan still on court. Tracey won his first set 6-2, but he fell behind 5-2 in the second set. Tracey, however, would win the next five games to give him the straight set victory. Kogan played a close match, but fell in three sets at sixth singles.
 
The Soaring Eagles will play top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology in the Empire 8 Tournament Semifinals on Saturday, May 2nd. This year's tournament is being played at Ithaca College. 

Singles Competition
1. Tyler Williams (NAZARETH) def. Keith Bujak (ELMIRA) 6-3, 6-0
2. Satchal Waters (ELMIRA) def. Matt Jennings (NAZARETH) 6-2, 6-2
3. Austin Mansell (ELMIRA) def. Christian Bryant (NAZARETH) 6-1, 6-4
4. Chris Konow (ELMIRA) def. Brian Rosiek (NAZARETH) 6-1, 6-4
5. Patrick Tracey (ELMIRA) def. Jared Sharza (NAZARETH) 6-2, 7-5
6. Louis Rogers (NAZARETH) def. Yaniv Kogan (ELMIRA) 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 1-0 (10-6)

Doubles Competition
1. Bujak/Waters (ELMIRA) def. Williams/Bryant (NAZARETH) 8-4
2. Sharza/Rogers (NAZARETH) def. Mansell/Konow (ELMIRA) 8-4
3. Tracey/Kogan (ELMIRA) def. Jennings/Rosiek (NAZARETH) 8-5