Farmingdale, NY – The Sage College's women's tennis team travelled to Farmingdale State for the semifinals of the 2014 Skyline Conference Tournament. Top seeded FSC bested fourth seeded Sage, 5-0 on Thursday to advance to the championship match where they will host St. Joseph's College (LI) on Saturday for the championship title. FSC improves to 12-1 overall, while the Gators' season comes to an end at 7-8.

The Rams took the doubles matches as the pair on seniors Jessica Sickles and Alex Bentz beat Sage's senior co-captain Kirsten Ackerman (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and sophomore Erin Duffy (Castleton, NY/Maple Hill), 8-6 at No. 1 doubles. No. 2 doubles, FSC's sophomore Priscilla Signore and Tatiana Rosamilia beat senior Katie Schultz (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) and senior co-captain Lauren Bendall (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), 8-1. The third slot went to Michelle Fredericks and Denise Liguori beat sophomore Alex Faas (Rensselaer, NY/Columbia) and rookie Lindsey Tolman (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls), 8-2.

Played indoors, the full set of courts was not available and singles started as courts became available. Bendall faced Fredericks at No. 4 singles and fell 6-0, 6-2 giving the Rams a 4-0 lead. No. 3 singles decided the match as Bentz beat Schultz 6-1, 6-1 giving the Rams the win. Sage's Ackerman was up 6-0, 3-0 over Sickles at No. 1 singles, but the flight was not completed.

The contest marked the final match of their careers for three Sage players, Ackerman, Bendall and Schultz. Ackerman, the two-time Skyline Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year, wraps her outstanding career with the most victories of any performer in the team's history as she went 78-16 lifetime.   

Tennis Match Results

The Sage Colleges vs Farmingdale State

Oct 23, 2014 at

Farmingdale State 5, The Sage Colleges 0

Singles competition

1. Sickles, Jessica (FSCW) vs. Ackerman, Kirsten (SAGEWOM) 0-6, 0-3, unfinished

2. Signore, Priscilla (FSCW) vs. Duffy, Erin (SAGEWOM) unfinished

3. Bentz, Alex (FSCW) def. Schultz, Katie (SAGEWOM) 6-1, 6-1

4. Fredericks, Michelle (FSCW) def. Bendall, Lauren (SAGEWOM) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Sickles, Jessica/Bentz, Alex (FSCW) def. Ackerman, Kirsten/Duffy, Erin (SAGEWOM) 8-6

2. Rosamilia, Tatiana/Signore, Priscilla (FSCW) def. Schultz, Katie/Bendall, Lauren (SAGEWOM) 8-1

3. Fredericks, Michelle/Liguori, Denise (FSCW) def. Faas, Alex/Tolman, Lindsey (SAGEWOM) 8-2

Match Notes:

The Sage Colleges 7-8

Farmingdale State 12-1

Skyline Conference Semifinals

A-10