Women's tennis season comes to an end in Empire 8 Semifinals
SAGE WOMEN'S TENNIS SQUAD FALLS IN EMPIRE 8 SEMIFINALS
Mendon, NY—The Sage Colleges' women's tennis team was in action on Friday at the Mendon Racquet Club in the 2019 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Tournament. Seeded third, the Gators took on No. 2 seeded Nazareth College in the semifinals, but fell 5-1 to end the Gators' quest of an NCAA Automatic bid. Nazareth moves on to the finals on Saturday against top-seeded St. John Fisher College. Nazareth improves to 6-3, while Sage wraps the season with a 10-4 mark.
Playing doubles first, Nazareth led 2-1 heading into the singles action. Sage got a win at No. 2 doubles from senior Rebecca Jackson (Saugerties, NY/John A. Coleman) and her partner sophomore Taylor Gillespie (Cobleskill, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville). The duo of Jackson and Gillespie topped Nazareth's Lauren Carr and Hannah Chesner, 8-7 (7-3 in the tie-breaker). Sage's doubles' pair of Jackson and Gillespie led the team with their impressive 12-1 record this fall.
The match marked the final appearance for Sage's seniors that include Abbey Clobridge (West Sand Lake, NY/Averill Park), Sadie Dunne (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and Alison Trudo (Plattsburgh, NY/Beekmantown).
Nazareth's Brooke Murphy and Maelah Nadeau beat Clobridge and Dunne at first doubles, 8-3, while Theresa Hecht and Marissa Towers beat junior Molly Cochrane (Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coeymans) and Trudo at third doubles, 8-7 (7-2 in the tie breaker).
In singles play the match was decided as Nadeau beat Clobridge in three sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 at the No. 1 spot. At second singles, Murphy beat Jackson, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, while at No. 3 singles Carr bested Dunne, 6-1, 6-1 to wrap the Golden Eagles' victory.
On the 2019 season, Clobridge went 7-6 at first singles and added a 5-8 record in doubles action this fall. Jackson was 6-6 in singles competition this season, while Dunne added an 8-4 singles record on the fall. Trudo went 5-2 this season in singles, playing at the fifth slot on the ladder.
Sage's 2019 lineup tied the program's single-season wins mark having collected 10 wins. Sage's head coach Tom Fashouer is in sixth season as the women's tennis coach and guided the team to their first Empire 8 playoff appearance this fall with their success, which is a first as a member of the Empire 8. Twice now, Fahouer's lineup has earned 10 wins in a season as his 2017 team also captured 10 wins. Sage's women's tennis team has now had three 10-win seasons (2019, 2017, and 2008). This senior class on the 2019 team helped Sage collect two post-season appearances as the team earned a spot in the Skyline Conference Tournament in 2017.
Tennis Match Results
The Sage Colleges vs Nazareth 10/18/19 at Mendon, N.Y.
(Mendon Racquet Club)
Nazareth 5, The Sage Colleges 1
Singles competition
1. Maelah Nadeau (NAZARETH) def. Abbey Clobridge (SAGEW) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
2. Brooke Murphy (NAZARETH) def. Rebecca Jackson (SAGEW) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
3. Lauren Carr (NAZARETH) def. Sadie Dunne (SAGEW) 6-1, 6-1
4. Marissa Towers (NAZARETH) vs. Taylor Gillespie (SAGEW) 6-4, 4-6, unfinished
5. Caroline Breitweiser (NAZARETH) vs. Kaitlin Banks (SAGEW) 4-4, unfinished
6. Caroline Keegan (NAZARETH) vs. Alison Trudo (SAGEW) 1-5, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Brooke Murphy/Maelah Nadeau (NAZARETH) def. Abbey Clobridge/Sadie Dunne (SAGEW) 8-3
2. Taylor Gillespie/Rebecca Jackson (SAGEW) def. Lauren Carr/Hannah Chesner (NAZARETH) 8-7 (7-3)
3. Theresa Hecht/Marissa Towers (NAZARETH) def. Molly Cochrane/Alison Trudo (SAGEW) 8-7 (7-2)
Match Notes:
The Sage Colleges 10-4
Nazareth 6-3
Empire 8 Conference Tournament semifinals
Nazareth advances to Saturday's E8 Championship match vs. St. John Fisher at 10 a.m. - 30-
