Box Score

UTICA, NY – The Alfred University women's tennis team competed in Empire 8 action on the road at Utica College, but came up just short with a loss of 4-5.
 
The Saxons (0-7, 0-4 Empire 8) got out to a slow start in doubles with their only win coming from the No. 3 pair of captains Rachel Pera (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) and Beryl Torthe (Pretoria, South Africa/St. Mary's Diocesan-South Africa). They defeated Shannon Fillmore and Christa Pham, 8-6. Torthe was the only player who competed in both singles and doubles who went undefeated on the day. She defeated Madeline McIlnay 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 5 spot.
 
Tori Pellegrino (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) picked up a three-set win against the Pioneer's No. 1, Sara Gribanoff, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 while Amber Smith (Prattsburgh, NY/Prattsburgh) rounded out the victories for the Saxons as she topped Pham at No. 6 singles, 6-0, 6-1. "Tori had a fantastic comeback at first singles," head coach Mike Graham said. "She dropped the first set but stayed very mentally focused to come back and win the second and third."
 
The No. 4 singles match between Alfred University's Nurila Kambar (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Republic Physics and Mathematics School) and Utica's Fillmore went to three sets and a third set tiebreaker. Kambar fell just short with a score of 1-6, 6-4, 6-7(4-7). "Amber and Beryl both came out strong," Graham said. "They stayed aggressive during their points."
 
The Saxons will next have a week off of competition as they head to Elmira College on Saturday, September 23 at 1pm to round out a four-match road streak.