Box Score Score: The Sage Colleges 5, Elmira College 4
Records: Sage (4-1, 2-1 E8), Elmira (1-4, 1-2 E8)
Location: Prospect Park – Troy, N.Y.
 
TROY, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's tennis team came out on the wrong end of a 5-4 decision this afternoon in Troy, New York, as the Soaring Eagles fell to The Sage Colleges in Empire 8 Conference action. With the loss, Elmira's record drops to 1-2 inside league play, while the Gators improved to 2-1 in the E8.
 
Elmira's top doubles duo of Megan Fitzgerald '18 and Katy Jewett '21 continued their sublime start to the 2017 fall season with another dominant performance. The EC pair rolled to an 8-2 victory and improved to 4-1 on the young season. Emily Green '18 and Sarah Hill '19 fell by a single break of serve at the No. 2 position, 8-5, while third doubles combo Eliza Johnson '21 and Cassie Brown '21 dropped an 8-2 decision.
 
Despite trailing 2-1 entering the singles matches, Elmira held its own up and down the lineup. Johnson earned her first collegiate singles victory at the No. 2 spot in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Green was not far behind at the No. 3 position with a strong 6-3, 6-0 performance, her second straight singles win.
 
Rounding out today's winning players was Jewett, who saw her name penciled into the singles lineup for the first time in her collegiate career. The Upper Nyack, New York, native made a strong case to be an everyday starter in the singles lineup, as the rookie netter cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the No. 6 spot.
 
EC's ace, Fitzgerald, tasted defeat for the first time this season, as Sage's Sammantha Montague picked up a 6-2, 6-4 win at the No. 1 position. Montague improved to 5-0 in singles action with the win.
 
Hill also fell in a close match at the No. 4 spot, as the second-year talent came up short in three sets to Sage's Rebecca Jackson. After falling in an opening-set tiebreaker, 7-2, Hill battled her way back into the match with a 6-3 second-set victory. However, Hill's rally fell short in the third set, as Jackson clinched the match with a 6-1 third-set win, solidifying a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-1 triumph.
 
Closing out today's matches was Danielle Bliss '19, who fell in straight sets at the No. 5 position, 6-0, 6-0.
 
Scores
Singles
1. Sammantha Montague (SAGE) def. Megan Fitzgerald (ELMIRA) 6-2, 6-4
2. Eliza Johnson (ELMIRA) def. Abbey Clobridge (SAGE) 6-2, 6-2
3. Emily Green (ELMIRA) def. Shanessa Mendoza (SAGE) 6-3, 6-0
4. Rebecca Jackson (SAGE) def. Sarah Hill (ELMIRA) 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-1
5. Shanice Mendoza (SAGE) def. Danielle Bliss (ELMIRA) 6-0, 6-0
6. Katy Jewett (ELMIRA) def. Samantha Dibbell (SAGE) 6-1, 6-1
 
Doubles
1. Fitzgerald/Jewett (ELMIRA) def. Montague/Jackson (SAGE) 8-2
2. Mendoza/Clobridge (SAGE) def. Green/Hill (ELMIRA) 8-5
3. Tolman/Mendoza (SAGE) def. Johnson/Brown (ELMIRA) 8-3
 
News and Notes

• Elmira fell to 0-2 in 5-4 matches this season.
• Today's contest was the first all-time meeting between the two teams.
• Jewett played in her first collegiate singles match.
• Jewett and Johnson won their first collegiate singles matches.
• Jewett was Elmira's lone double-winner of the afternoon.
• Fitzgerald and Johnson have opened the year with four wins in their first five doubles matches at No. 1.
• Fitzgerald took over sole possession of second place in EC history for career wins (71).
• Green won her second straight singles match, which bumped her record above .500 at 3-2.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles are back at it tomorrow evening, when they travel to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to take on the Wildcats of the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Sunday's non-conference bout is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.