Rochester, NY-- RSC's women's tennis team is looking toopen the 2023 season this week and by year's end punch their ticket back to the Empire 8 playoffs. Hartwick College, the league's defending champion is looking to earn its second consecutive Empire 8 Championship, as the 2023 women's tennis season gets underway on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. League play is set to start on Sept. 17. The top four teams will advance to the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, which will take place at the home of the regular season champion on Friday, Oct. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 14. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship, which will take place starting in May.
RSC opens the season on September 1 hosting Plattsburgh State at 4 p.m. at nearby Albany Academy and Vermont State Castleton on September 2 at noon at the Stephen and Harriett Myers Middle School Tennis Courts.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
Selma Dizdarevic, Utica, Sr., Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor – Dizdarevic led the Pioneers with five singles wins in the second position last season. She was also part of two doubles teams to grab three wins.
Arija Grant, Houghton, So., Kennebunk, ME/Kennebunk – Grant had a strong first season with the Highlanders, leading the team with eight singles wins, five of them over conference opponents last season.
Jade Killikelly, Hartwick, Sr., Jamaica, NY/The Mary Louise Academy – Killikelly returns as a two-time Empire 8 Player to Watch. She earned All-Empire 8 first team singles and doubles accolades for the second straight season after leading the Hawks to their first Empire 8 Championship in 2022.
Tirzah Spivey, Russell Sage, So., Clifton Park, NY/Schenectady – Spivey, a 2022 All-Empire 8 second team singles and third team doubles selection, earned nine singles wins, while playing at the first, second and third positions. She was also part of the top doubles team for the Gators, winning seven matches.
Kathryn Strait, St. John Fisher, Sr., Webster, NY/Mercy – Strait, a two-time Empire 8 Player to Watch, earned All-Empire 8 second team honors in singles and was a third team selection in doubles during the 2021 season.
Alina Zabihailo, Alfred, So., Kyiv, Ukraine/Educational Complex #143 – Zabihailo, the reigning 2022 Co-Rookie of the Year, went 14-2 in singles matches, with six wins over conference opponents. Her stellar first season landed her All-Empire 8 first team honors in singles and doubles.
Catherine Zak, Nazareth, So., Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury – Zak earned All-Empire 8 second team singles honors in 2022. She had six conference singles wins on the season while contributing to four doubles wins.
Hartwick
The Hawks won their first Empire 8 Championship in 2022, a year after making their first Empire 8 title match appearance in 2021. The Hawks, who won 16 matches last season, return nine players and seven starters as they look to repeat in 2023. Junior Jade Killikelly is a two-time All-Empire 8 first team selection in both singles and doubles. Phoebe Olson, the 2022 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year and 2022 Empire 8 Tournament MVP also returns. Juniors Ryann Ashby and Colleen Marsh who were both All-Empire 8 third team selections, and sophomore Lily Vanuga, an All-Empire 8 second team singles and doubles selection, will all be key returning team members. Newcomers Gianna Leggieri and Lily Sister will also look to be key additions for the Hawks.
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers will attempt to take back their championship title and gain their sixth league crown overall in 2023. While Nazareth will look to replace two-time Empire 8 Player of the Year Aliya Guzman, sophomore Catherine Zak will lead the Golden Flyers in 2023. She came off a great first season earning All-Empire 8 second team singles accolades, winning six conference singles matches and four doubles matches. Senior Katelyn Spath and junior Lily Bulkeley will also be counted on to lead the Golden Flyers. Bulkeley was an All-E8 second team selection in singles last season, while Spath was a third team pick.
Houghton
Houghton will look to earn its fifth consecutive berth in the Empire 8 Tournament this season and make a run towards its first league title in 2023. The Highlanders advanced to the Empire 8 semifinals last season. Sophomore Arija Grant is coming off a strong debut for the Highlanders after winning five conference singles matches in 2022. Senior Allie Leary and sophomore Clancey Cockle will be counted on to make a major impact as well. In addition, Zoe Zachary is a key newcomer, who will be expected to step right into the starting lineup.
Alfred
The Saxons will look to make it back to the Empire 8 Tournament in 2023. Sophomore Alina Zabihailo, the 2022 E8 Co-Rookie of the Year, is back to lead the way. Zabihailo is the first Saxon to earn Empire 8 Rookie of the Year honors since 2008. She finished 14-2 in singles matches with just one loss to a conference opponent en route to earning All-E8 first team accolades in both singles and doubles. Senior Macy Youngberg and junior Abby Call will also be big contributors for the Saxons this season. Youngberg partnered with Zabihailo to earn All-E8 first team honors in doubles, while Call garnered All-Empire 8 third team accolades in singles. With five starters returning, the Saxons look to continue their success in the 2023 season.
St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher will look to earn its second Empire 8 title in the last five seasons this fall. Last season, the Cardinals just missed out on the postseason for the first time since 2016. Senior Kathryn Strait, an All-Empire 8 second team selection in singles and third team pick in doubles in 2021, will be counted on to continue to lead the Cardinals in 2023. Classmate Madison Galvin is back after earning All-E8 first team plaudits in doubles and second team honors in singles in 2021. Sophomore Lily Renzi will also return after earning All-E8 third team in singles. Newcomers Maddy Langley and Olivia Rizzo will be counted on to be top additions to the Cardinals squad.
Russell Sage
The Gators will look to get back to the Empire 8 Tournament in 2023. Sophomore Tirzah Spivey will be a major player for the Gators this season. She earned All-E8 second team singles honors and third team doubles honors in her debut season. Juniors Emma Nuzzi and Gwen Eichen and graduate student Claire Connolly will be leaders as well for the Gators. Russell Sage also adds Amber Elk and Erika Jeune as key newcomers.
Utica
With a year under this young squad's belt, the Pioneers will look to make the Empire 8 Tournament in 2023. Sophomore Selma Dizdarevic will lead the Pioneers after a five singles win season. Graduate student Ellen Lyga, a former All-Empire 8 selection, will return to the court this season and make an impact, along with junior Paetra Heeren and senior Jackie Roberts. The team will add newcomers Callie Ott and Lyndsey Tiedemann to complete the 2023 team.
Final 2022 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Standings
Hartwick (16-3, 7-0 E8) – League Champions
Nazareth (9-5, 6-1 E8)
Houghton (8-7, 5-2 E8)
Alfred (10-5, 4-3 E8)
St. John Fisher (6-4, 3-4 E8)
Russell Sage (5-8, 2-5 E8)
Utica (1-9, 1-6 E8)
Medaille (1-8, 0-7 E8)
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and YouTube
