ITHACA, N.Y. (May 7, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's tennis team will be playing for its second straight Empire 8 title on Sunday as the Ducks defeated Nazareth College in the conference semis on Saturday afternoon at Reis Tennis Center on the campus of Cornell University. Sophomore No. 1 singles player Chris Rosensteel clinched the fifth and final point of the match with a 6-1, 6-4 win over sophomore Ryan McCormick (Rochester, N.Y.).

In postseason play, once a team reaches the necessary five points, the match is over. The Ducks swept through the doubles portion of the afternoon as Rosensteel and fellow sophomore Shota Tasaki downed McCormick and sophomore Bret Beaver (Hudson, Ohio), 8-1. In second doubles, seniors Arik Zeevy and Jason Ringstad (Fairbanks, Alaska) bested sophomore Jeremy Mancus (Irivngton, N.Y.) and senior Adam Landry (Macedon, N.Y.), 8-5, before freshman Lopburi Sasinin and senior Jay Lee won a tight 9-7 decision over freshman Erik Manske (Staten Island, N.Y.) and junior Tom Wood (Victor, N.Y.).

Zeevy was the first singles player to finish his match, earning a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 2 single over Beaver, and Rosensteel followed close behind with his clincher out of the No. 1 slot.

Stevens will take on Ithaca College for the Empire 8 Championship and automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship. The Ducks, last year's conference champ, defeated Ithaca College by a count of 7-2 one week ago after defeating the Bombers for the title in 2010. Overall the Ducks are 7-0 against conference opponents this season and have won 14-straight against Empire 8 foes. Their last loss was at Ithaca (5-4) on April 10, 2010.

Sunday's match-time is slated for 10 a.m.