| Elmira at Hartwick | Elmira vs. Houghton |
| Game Details |
Friday, Sept. 29 | Oneonta, N.Y. | 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 30 | Elmira, N.Y. | 1 p.m. |
| Hartwick Links |
Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Houghton Links |
Roster | Schedule | Stats (n/a) |
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's tennis team resumes its Empire 8 Conference schedule with a pair of league matches this weekend against Hartwick College and Houghton College. Elmira opens play on Friday, September 29, against the Hawks of Hartwick at 3:30 p.m. in Oneonta, New York. The Soaring Eagles well then honor their two graduating members of the Class of 2018,
Megan Fitzgerald '18 and
Emily Green '18, on Saturday, September 30, when they host the Highlanders of Houghton at the Murray Athletic Center at 1:00 p.m.
RECORD HOLDER
Browsing through the EC record books, one name can be found atop the charts in nearly every major statistical category:
Megan Fitzgerald '18. The senior continued to add to her career win total last weekend with a trio of victories in matches against Alfred and Fredonia. Those three wins boosted her career win total to 76, making her Elmira's new record holder for most wins, as she surpassed former teammate Ayaka Yoshino '16 for the top spot. Fitzgerald is also tied for the program's No. 1 position for career wins in singles (37) and doubles (39).
SCOUTING HARTWICK
The Hawks sport an even 4-4 overall record this season with a 2-3 mark inside Empire 8 Conference play. Hartwick opened the 2017 campaign with four straight wins, but has since hit a rough patch, as the team enters Friday's league bout riding a four-match losing streak. Three of those four losses came at the hands of Empire 8 opposition (Nazareth, Sage and St. John Fisher). Hartwick's play at the top three singles spots has been strong, as the Hawks are 19-5 (79.2%) at those positions. 2016 Empire 8 All-Conference Second-Team honoree Heidi Rice has held down the No. 1 position for the Hawks and enters Friday with a 6-2 singles record and a 5-2 record at No. 1 doubles. Kelly Napolitano, a three-time E8 Honorable Mention selection, is 7-1 at No. 2 singles and sports a 5-3 record in doubles, splitting time at the first and second positions.
SCOUTING HOUGHTON
After opening the season with back-to-back conference losses, the Highlanders went on to win five of their next six matches, bringing the team's overall record to 5-3 and 3-3 within Empire 8 play. Houghton is riding a three-match winning streak, which includes wins over Brockport, Utica and Alfred. Houghton's most recent victory came on Wednesday, September 27, when it bested Alfred by a 6-3 final score. Matches at No. 2 and No. 3 singles went into three sets, which could have drastically changed the outcome of the match had Laura Jacuzzo and Kaylee Jentsch not won. Jacuzzo was a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 winner at the second spot, while Jentsch was a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 winner at third.
SERIES HISTORY
Elmira and Hartwick will meet for the 29th time in program history this Friday evening. The Hawks hold an 18-10 edge in the all-time series and head into the matchup with two consecutive wins. Elmira's last victory over the Hawks dates back to the 2014 fall season, when EC downed Hartwick by an 8-1 final score. Saturday's match will be the fifth all-time meeting between Elmira and Houghton. The Soaring Eagles are 3-1 against the Highlanders, although Houghton owns the most recent win, a 6-3 victory during the 2016 fall season.
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles return to action on Saturday, October 7, with a trip to Hoboken, New Jersey, as Elmira takes on the Ducks of Stevens Institute of Technology. The Empire 8 Conference contest is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.
