HOBOKEN, N.J. (April 29, 2013) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's tennis team will head into the Empire 8 Championship this weekend as the No. 1 seed and host after posting a perfect 7-0 mark in conference play for the third straight season.
The Ducks closed out their regular season with an 8-1 victory over Nazareth College on Saturday, finishing with a 13-7 overall record, with all seven losses having come to national Top-27 teams. Stevens breezed through Empire 8 play, sweeping three match, 9-0, and winning the other four by 8-1 scores despite resting multiple regular starters on several occasions.
Stevens will face #4 seed St. John Fisher College in the first semifinal on Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m. The Ducks defeated the Cardinals, 8-1, in both teams' Empire 8 opener back on April 6, dropping just one game apiece at first-through-fourth singles and sweeping doubles, with no pairing giving away more than four games.
The other semifinal will pit #2 seed Ithaca College and #3 seed Nazareth College against each other in a rematch of Ithaca's 6-3 victory two weeks ago. The Bombers swept doubles, picking up a close 8-6 win at #1, and came out on top at second, third and sixth singles.
The tournament format will consist of three doubles matches followed by six singles matches. Each match will be played unti decision, meaning once a team earns its fifth point, play will be halted and the leading team awarded the victory.
In the event of inclement weather, both matches will take place simultaneously at 9:30 a.m. at the Centercourt of Morristown (65 Columbia Road, Morristown, N.J. 07960).
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association will release its penultimate Division III Men's Rankings prior to the Championship on Thursday, May 2, in which the Ducks are expected to break into the Northeast Region Top 10 following victories over Northeast No. 12 Vassar College and previously undefeated National No. 30/Northeast No. 8 The College of New Jersey.
Saturday, May 4 - Semifinals
#1 Stevens vs. #4 St. John Fisher 10 a.m.
#2 Ithaca vs. #3 Nazareth 2 p.m.
Sunday, May 5 - Final
Stevens/St. John Fisher vs. Ithaca/Nazareth 11 a.m.
