AUGUSTA, ME - The No. 2 West seeded Alfred University men's tennis team took a narrow lost to the No. 1 West seeded St. John Fisher University in the Empire 8 Championship match on Saturday at the Kennebec Valley Tennis Association courts.

The Saxons (14-5, 6-2 Empire 8) fell short 4-3 to the Cardinals (12-3, 8-0 Empire 8).

AU entered singles action on the back foot after losing the doubles point. However, the Saxons remained strong and confident as Anlun Zwerver (Koog Aan De Zaan, The Netherlands / Blaise Pascal College) picked up the first point for the team in his No. 4 singles match, 6-2, 6-2. Breece Erickson (Goshen, IN / Bethany Christian) followed with a victory in the No. 3 spot, taking the first set 7-6 and the second 6-1. André López Jiménez (Mexico City, Mexico, PrepaTec Esmeralda) closed out the scoring as his No. 2 singles victory put the Saxons in front with a 3-2 advantage, 6-1, 6-4.

AU's match came to an end after falling in the No. 5 spot and a close loss in a tie breaker set for the No. 6 singles.

"A tough loss for sure," said Head Coach Jake Fisler. If you told us this is how the season would go in August, we would have accepted that with open arms. Proud of the fight the guys showed today. The moment got to us, but we learned a lot. Proud of this group and excited to come back stronger next season."

Alfred University will look ahead to next year as they prepare to return.
 

—Swords Forward Saxons—