ALBANY, N.Y. – Hartwick extended its Empire 8 Conference winning streak to 23 with this afternoon's 7-1 victory at Russell Sage College.
Junior Tirzah Spivey (Clifton Park, NY/Schenectady) rallied from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Hartwick junior Phoebe Olson, the 2023 Conference Player of the Year, 2-6, 6-4, 10-8, for the lone RSC point. The two-time All-Empire 8 Conference singles selection moved to 9-0 in singles action this fall.
Hartwick (8-1/6-0 E8) hasn't lost an E8 match since September 18, 2021
The Gators (6-3/4-1 E8), which has equaled the program single-season record for E8 victories, are back on the courts tomorrow against Nazareth. The 1:00 pm Saturday matinee will also serve as the program's "Senior Day".
Gator Bites: RSC, under the direction of Head Coach Michael Branche, got off to a 6-1 start, its best in a season since 2019…The Gators went 9-1 to begin that fall and finished 10-4…RSC has equaled a program record with its four Empire 8 Conference wins this autumn…The 2017 and 2019 teams both had four Conference victories…This year's roster is made up of six newcomers and seven returnees…Spivey, 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) headlined the returning players…Spivey finished 5-1 at first singles in league play last season… She commenced the weekend with an 8-0 singles record…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 Sunday, 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 opened the weekend 9-0 overall, 8-0 at number two doubles, on the campaign… Spivey and Nuzzi were chosen the E8 Doubles Team of the Week for the period ending Sunday, September 29…The top doubles pairing defeated Saint John Fisher 8-1 on Saturday, September 28.
