| Elmira vs. Alfred | Elmira at Fredonia |
| Game Details |
Saturday, Sept. 23 | Pine Valley, N.Y. | 12 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 24 | Fredonia, N.Y. | 1 p.m. |
| Alfred Links |
Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Fredonia Links |
Roster | Schedule | Stats |
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's tennis team will look to continue its winning ways this weekend, as the Soaring Eagles prepare for a pair of matches. Elmira welcomes Alfred University to the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday, September 23, for a 12:00 p.m. Empire 8 Conference match. The following day, Elmira hits the road for a 1:00 p.m. non-league match against the Blue Devils of Fredonia.
STAYING IN THE HUNT
After dropping back-to-back Empire 8 matches, the Soaring Eagles will be looking to level their league record this afternoon with a solid performance against the Saxons. Elmira is 1-2 within the E8, and with four teams tied for the third spot in the conference standings, a win this afternoon would go a long way in EC's hopes of qualifying for the year-end tournament.
ON THE CUSP OF HISTORY
With three wins in last weekend's matches, senior
Megan Fitzgerald '18 increased her career-win total to 73, good enough to move into a two-way tie with former teammate, Ayaka Yoshino '16, for the program's all-time wins record. Fitzgerald needs just one win this weekend to claim sole possession of first place, and with an 83.3 winning percentage, the odds seem to be in her favor. Additionally, two singles victories over the weekend would make Fitzgerald EC's all-time singles wins leader, while a pair of doubles victories would place her in a two-way tie for the doubles win record as well.
SCOUTING ALFRED
Alfred University enters today's content in search of its first win of the season, after opening the season with a lackluster 0-8 showing. However, the Saxons' form in recent matches should have their new bench boss, and Elmira, New York, native, Mike Graham hopeful for a win. Alfred lost its last two matches by 5-4 scores to Utica and Oswego State, that after falling to SUNYAC opponents Cortland and Fredonia by 9-0 scores in its previous matches.
SCOUTING FREDONIA
The Blue Devils are off to a hot start to the 2017 season with an impressive 5-1 record and a 1-1 mark inside the ultra-competitive SUNYAC. Fredonia is riding a four-match winning streak, which includes victories over Penn State Behrend, Brockport, Alfred and Thiel. Four of Fredonia's wins this year have taken place on its campus at the Steele Hall Tennis Courts, where the Blue Devils have posted a 4-1 record. Anna Chiacchia has held down the top singles and doubles positions for Fredonia, and heads into the weekend with a solid 9-3 combined record. Sarah Bunk and Olivia Miller boast a pair of flawless singles records, 6-0, at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions, respectively. Miller is also Fredonia's all-time singles wins leader (21), a feat she accomplished in the team's 9-0 win over Thiel last time out. Bunk, on the other hand, is Fredonia's most winningest player this season, as the freshman talent has yet to taste defeat with a perfect combined record of 12-0.
SERIES HISTORY
Elmira and Alfred have a rich history that features 30 all-time matches. The Saxons hold a 14-16 lead in the all-time series and enter the matchup with the most recent win, a 6-3 victory in 2016. However, prior to that setback, Elmira had won five consecutive matches against Alfred. Sunday's match between Elmira and Fredonia will be the second all-time meeting between the two teams. The Blue Devils won the only previous match, a 6-3 decision at the Murray Athletic Center during the 2016 fall season.
LOOKING AHEAD
This weekend's matches will serve as EC's final tune-up before heading into the heart of its conference schedule. Elmira returns to E8 action on Friday, September 29, with a road trip to face the Hawks of Hartwick College at 4:00 p.m. The Soaring Eagles conclude play at the Murray Athletic Center the following day, as the Elmira women welcome Houghton College to Pine Valley, New York, for a 1:00 p.m. league bout.
