Score: Elmira College 7, Utica College 2
Records: Elmira (1-9, 1-5 E8), Utica (0-9, 0-7 E8)
Location: Utica College Tennis Courts – Utica, N.Y.
 
UTICA, N.Y. -- A strong start in doubles rolled over into the singles portion of today's contest, as the Elmira College women's tennis team powered past Utica College, 7-2, for its first win of the 2018 campaign. Not only was it the first win for Elmira, it was also EC's first Empire 8 Conference victory of the season.
 
The Elmira women set the tone early this afternoon with wins at all three doubles positions. Katy Jewett '21 and Cassie Brown '21 teamed up for an 8-5 victory at the top spot, which turned out to be the closest doubles contest of the day, as EC surrendered just three games total in wins at the No. 2 and 3 positions. Sarah Hill '19 and Cheyanne Holwell '19 were 8-1 winners at the No. 2 spot, while Marta Kliszcz '20 and Brandi Meeder '22 claimed an 8-2 win at No. 3.
 
Elmira took its 3-0 lead into singles action, and quickly saw that advantage build to 4-0 with a win by Jewett. The Upper Nyack, New York, native made quick work of her counterpart from Utica at the No. 3 position with a 6-0, 6-1 win. The victory extended her singles winning streak to seven consecutive matches.
 
Utica got on the board with a win at No. 4 singles, but EC's Brown ended all thoughts of a comeback by clinching the match for the Soaring Eagles with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph at No. 2. The singles win was Brown's second of the season.
 
The Pioneers earned another singles win at the top spot, but EC ended the match with back-to-back wins at the No. 5 and 6 positions, both of which ended in straight sets. Meeder was a 6-4, 6-2 winner at the No. 5 spot, her first collegiate singles win, while Kliszcz earned her second singles victory of the season with a 6-2, 6-2 triumph at No. 6.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Rob Clayton talks about how important earning all three doubles wins was today…
"Doubles has been the key to our growth as a team this season. With our sport being so heavily reliant on confidence it was a great way to kick off the day."
 
Coach Clayton reflects on Jewett's winning streak…
"I believe with Katy's knee progressively improving, with great help from our ATC Daysjia, she's been able to tackle her singles game one piece at a time. She has a lot of natural ability at the net in doubles and we've been able to take that comfort and build her singles game around it."
 
Coach Clayton talks about how today's win helps the EC's confidence moving forward…
"The team's confidence has been building match to match along with their games. I think this match is a result of opportunity, hard work and staying in the moment. We will be taking this boost of confidence into our final two matches next weekend. The proof is in the pudding."

Scores
Singles
1. Julianne Pieros (UTICA) def. Sarah Hill (ELMIRA) 6-1, 6-4
2. Cassie Brown (ELMIRA) def. Madeline McIlnay (UTICA) 6-1, 6-4
3. Katy Jewett (ELMIRA) def. Bianca Bockhaus (UTICA) 6-0, 6-1
4. Christa Pham (UTICA) def. Cheyanne Holwell (ELMIRA) 6-2, 6-2
5. Brandi Meeder (ELMIRA) def. Elma Selimovic (UTICA) 6-4, 6-2
6. Marta Kliszcz (ELMIRA) def. Sara Gribanoff (UTICA) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles
1. Jewett/Brown (ELMIRA) def. Pieros/McIlnay (UTICA) 8-5
2. Hill/Holwell (ELMIRA) def. Bockhaus/Pham (UTICA) 8-1
3. Kliszcz/Meeder (ELMIRA) def. Bruce/Muheljic (UTICA) 8-2

Order of Finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,4,2,1,6,5)

News and Notes

• Jewett extended her singles winning streak to seven consecutive matches.
• Brown clinched today's win at No. 2 singles.
• Meeder earned her first career singles win.
• EC swept the doubles matches for the first time since September 17, 2017.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to the courts this Saturday, October 6, at 1:00 p.m. when the Soaring Eagles host the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College at the Murray Athletic Center.