TROY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College saw arguably its best season since joining the Empire 8 Conference come to a close in the semifinals of the E8 Championship Tournament with this afternoon's 5-1 loss to top-seeded Hartwick.
Freshman Marian Aguirre (Plano, TX/Plano) and freshman Olivia Monaco (Campbell Hall, NY/Washingtonville) earned the lone RSC point with a hard-fought 8-7 (8-6) victory at number two doubles. The rookie pairing finished their debut autumn with a 13-2 overall doubles record.
Aguirre, a two-time E8 Player of the Week, ended her fall with a 25-2 record across singles and doubles, including a 12-0 ledger at number one singles, while junior Tirzah Spivey (Clifton Park, NY/Schenectady), a two-time All-Conference singles selection, was a perfect 13-0 in singles competition.
The setback marked the end of arguably the best season for the fourth-seeded Gators. RSC (8-6) reached the E8 semis for the first time since 2019 and established a program single-season record with five E8 victories this fall.
Hartwick (11-1), which went undefeated in the E8's regular season play for the third-straight year, advances to play in tomorrow's Championship. Depending on weather, the 2:00 pm match between the Hawks and SUNY Geneseo or Nazareth will be held either at RPI or Latham's Tri-City Fitness.
Gator Bites: RSC, under the direction of Head Coach Michael Branche, qualified for the E8 Championship Tournament for the third time in program history…The Gators established a program record with its five E8 Conference wins this autumn…RSC 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… The 2017 and 2019 teams both had four Conference victories…This year's roster is made up of six newcomers and seven returnees on this year's roster...Spivey, a two-time All-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 entered the postseason with a 12-0 singles record...Aguirre was selected the E8 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…She headed into the postseason with a 22-2 overall record, 11-0 in number one singles…Aguirre was 132-13 in singles matches, 84-8 in Conference contests during the regular season…Monaco 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 started their debut doubles campaign 9-0 overall, 8-0 at number two doubles,… 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…Spivey was tabbed the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, October 6…She went 3-0 in singles that week, including defeating the reigning E8 Player of the Year from Hartwick on October 4.
