Houghton, NY—Russell Sage College's women's tennis team opened the new season on Sunday afternoon taking on Alfred University in an Empire 8 conference match held at Houghton College. Sage picked up where they left off a year ago after earning the program's first Empire 8 conference tournament appearance as they posted a 6-3 victory over the Saxons. With the win, RSC is now 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8, while Alfred drops to 0-1 overall and the league.
Sage is coming off one of the program's most successful season having earned a berth in the Empire 8 Tournament and posting a 10-4 record with a 4-2 record in Empire 8 action in 2019-2020.
Playing at No. 2 singles, junior Taylor Gillespie (Cobleskill, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) added a 6-3, 6-0 win as Sage took four of the singles matches. With the win, Gillespie is now 8-4 lifetime in singles matches as a Gator. A year ago she was a Second Team Empire 8 performer in doubles. On Sunday, she teamed with junior Kaitlin Banks (Annapolis, MD/Mount Anthony Union) for an 8-4 win at first doubles. A year ago, Gillespie went 12-1 in doubles play with a 5-1 mark in the league.
Senior Claire Connolly (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls) played her first match for the Gators on Sunday and responded with a 4-6, 6-2, 10-6 victory. She rebounded for the key win at No. 3 singles after dropping the first set.
A year ago, Sage's 2019 team tied the program's single-season wins mark having collected 10 wins. Sage's head coach Tom Fashouer is now in his seventh season as the women's tennis coach and guided the team to their first Empire 8 playoff appearance a year ago with their success.
Sage is back in action on March 13 for a pair of Empire 8 matches as they will play at Nazareth and will also face Hartwick College in matches at 3 and 6 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
Russell Sage College vs Alfred University
3/7/2021 at Houghton, NY
(Kerr-Pegula Athletics Complex)
Russell Sage College 6, Alfred University 3
Singles competition
1. Anna Gwozdz (ALFREDW) def. Kaitlyn Banks (RSCWOMEN) 2-6, 4-1, retired
2. Taylor Gillespie (RSCWOMEN) def. Cassondra Mark (ALFREDW) 6-3, 6-0
3. Claire Connolly (RSCWOMEN) def. Alex Rossen (ALFREDW) 4-6, 6-2, 10-6
4. Kimberly Rauber (ALFREDW) def. Chloe Gore (RSCWOMEN) 6-4, 6-3
5. Praescilla Daquin (RSCWOMEN) def. No player (ALFREDW), by forfeit
6. Kyerra STanley (RSCWOMEN) def. No player (ALFREDW), by forfeit
Doubles competition
1. Kaitlyn Banks/Taylor Gillespie (RSCWOMEN) def. Anna Gwozdz/Cassondra Mark (ALFREDW) 8-4
2. Kimberly Rauber/Alex Rossen (ALFREDW) def. Claire Connolly/Chloe Gore (RSCWOMEN) 8-4
3. Praescilla Daquin/Kyerra STanley (RSCWOMEN) def. No player/No player (ALFREDW), by forfeit
Match Notes:
Russell Sage College 1-0, 1-0 Empire 8
Alfred University 0-1, 0-1 Empire 8
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,5,2,4,1,3)
