HOBOKEN, NJ– The Alfred University women's tennis team dropped a 5-1 decision to host and top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology Saturday in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference championship tournament.

AU, the tournament's fourth seed, got its lone point in doubles play, as seniors Brennan Ferguson (Destrechan, LA/Ursuline) and Emily Eisenberg (Oyster Bay, NY/Oyster Bay) took second doubles, 8-6.

The Saxons lost three singles matches (fourth, fifth and six singles were not completed) and two of three doubles matches.

AU, making its first-ever appearance in the Empire 8 championships since the league shifted to a four-team tournament format , ended one of the program's most successful season with a 7-6 record.