ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's tennis team claimed a 4-3 Empire 8 win over visiting Nazareth University on Friday evening during Homecoming/Family Weekend.
 
The Saxons (7-3, 4-2 Empire 8) were down 3-2 after the Golden Flyers (4-4, 2-3 Empire 8) picked up the doubles point and after some back-and-forth singles action with just No. 5 and No. 6 singles remaining. Alexis Gits (Irondequoit, NY/Irondequoit) claimed a 6-1, 7-5 win at the five spot over Paige Masrouri to tie the match, 3-3 and was almost immediately followed by Anastasia Shaw (Orange County, NY/Washingtonville) clinching the victory with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Isabella Iannitti at No. 6 singles for the 4-3 home team win.
 
Becca Epping (Mitchell, IN/Bedford North Lawrence) earned the first point for the Saxons on the day with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles over Anna Spencer, right before Elizabeth Madsen (Portland, OR/Grant) earned a 7-5, 6-1 win at No. 2 over Kenna Ellis. Back-to-back wins at No. 1 singles and No. 4 for Naz tied the match and took the 3-2 lead before Gits and Shaw closed it out.
 
"This was a massive team win," Head Coach Jake Fisler said. "With huge conference implications and a will to stay undefeated at home, the team rose to the occasion in dramatic fashion. I want to give a shout-out to both first-years, Alexis [Gits] and Anastasia [Shaw] for their simultaneous match-clinching wins. We have had some injuries and sickness, but the team rallied around one another and stepped up when it mattered most. Looking to carry this momentum into our matchup against SUNY Geneseo tomorrow."
 
Gits and Allison Windisch (Pittsford, NY/Sutherland) earned the only Saxon win in doubles from the No. 3 spot with a 6-4 win over Iannitti and Masrouri.
 
The Saxons will next travel for more Empire 8 action on Saturday, October 4 for a 1:00pm first-serve at SUNY Geneseo.