GENESEO, N.Y. - The SUNY Geneseo women's tennis team defeated Alfred 4-0 on Saturday to win the Empire 8 championship, the program's first conference title since 2017 and 12th overall. The Knights cap off an undefeated season with the title, and improve to 13-0.
Geneseo secured the doubles point with wins at the top two flights. Natalie Pipes and JoAnn Catalano won 6-2 at first doubles, and Samantha Rava and Rachel Molloy followed with a 6-1 win at second doubles. Third doubles was unfinished, with Lauren Levatino and Talia Wutz leading 3-2.
The Knights then won the three singles matches needed to clinch the title. Pipes won 6-2, 6-0 at first singles, Rava won 6-0, 6-1 at second singles, and Molloy won 6-2, 6-0 at third singles. Three other flights were unfinished when the match was clinched. Catalano won the first set 6-2 at fourth singles and trailed 2-1 in the second, and Levatino won the first set 6-0 at fifth singles and led 3-2 in the second. Wutz dropped the first set 6-4 at sixth singles and led 1-0 in the second.
Natalie Pipes was named the Tournament MVP after going 4-0 overall in the semifinals and finals, winning both first doubles and first singles matches. The All-Tournament Team will be announced by the conference office next week.
Geneseo will advance to the NCAA Tournament in May.
