PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Russell Sage College went on the road to Saint John Fisher and came away with a 5-4 Empire 8 Conference victory. The Saturday matinee came down to the number six singles match between RSC senior Emma Vander Baan (Barre, MA/Quabbin Regional) and SJFU junior Paige Kopolow. Vander Baan secured the win with a 61, 4-6, 6-3 triumph.
"I'm very happy with the team's effort today," said Head Coach Michael Branche. "Rochester is always a tough place to play but our team came out strong and supported each other until the final point. We still have a lot of opportunities to grow, which is exciting for the future of this team and program."
The Gators (6-1/4-0 E8), off to their best start since 2019, held a 2-1 lead after the doubles flight. RSC's top two teams of Emma Nuzzi (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), a grad student, and junior Tirzah Spivey (Clifton Park, NY/Schenectady) and freshmen Marian Aguirre (Plano, TX/Plano) and Olivia Monaco (Campbell Hall, NY/Washingtonville) each won by scores of 8-1.
Aguirre, a two-time E8 Player of the Week, won the top singles match 6-1, 6-0. She's now 15-0 across singles and doubles and has an 84-5 singles ledger.
Spivey took the number two singles match 6-1, 6-2, to move to 7-0 in this fall's singles competition.
RSC plays next on Tuesday at SUNY Farmingdale.
Gator Bites: RSC is having its best start to a season since 2019…The Gators went 9-1 to begin that fall and finished 10-4/4-2 E8…RSC has six newcomers and six returnees on this year's roster…Junior Tirzah Spivey (Clifton Park, NY/Schenectady), a two-time All-Empire 8 Conference singles selection, Emma Nuzzi (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), a grad student, and senior Emma Vander Baan (Barre, MA/Quabbin Regional) headline the returning players…Spivey finished 5-1 at first singles in league play last season…Freshman Marian Aguirre (Plano, TX/Plano) was selected the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week for the periods ending Sunday, September 8 and Sunday, September 15…The rookie started her collegiate career by going 8-0 across singles and doubles, including a 24-3 singles ledger…Freshmen Olivia Monaco (Campbell Hall, NY/Washingtonville) and Aguirre were chosen the Conference's Doubles Team of the Week for the period ending September 22…The duo went 2-0 playing number two doubles that week, winning their two matches by a combined score of 16-4…The first-years are 8-0 at number two doubles on the campaign…Spivey entered the weekend with a 6-0 singles record.
