Women's Tennis | 10/13/2016 10:14:00 AM

HOUGHTON, NY - Having already made history clinching its second consecutive post-season berth, the no. 4 seeded Hartwick women's tennis team looks to add to its firsts, an appearance in the 2016 Empire 8 Championship match. However, in order to do so, they must achieve another feat, upsetting top-seeded Ithaca.

The Hawks and Bombers meet at 10:30 a.m. at host Houghton College on Friday, October 14^th in the semifinals.

Ithaca (8-0, 8-0 E8) competes as the conference's reigning champion. This Friday also marks the second-consecutive time the Hawks and Bombers meet in the semifinal round. Last year, the Bombers claimed a 9-0 victory en route to their 11^th consecutive conference title.

Head Coach Peter Dumas stated, "It's a great opportunity to play a tough opponent. Our players just need to play the way they play, focus on the ball and compete hard."

Doubles partners, Kelly Napolitano (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) and Kelli Ryan (Plattsburgh, NY/Seton Catholic), have used an 8-3 overall record to lead the pack. This includes a 6-2 E8 clip seeing losses to only no. 1 Ithaca and no. 2 Stevens.

"I think we have a very good chance at no. 2 doubles. They have our best record this year and all of their loses have been very close. We look to them to get the upset."

Heidi Rice (Canandaigua, NY/Marcus Whitman) and Rose Natoli (Endwell, NY/Maine-Endwell) secured a 6-5 mark at the first doubles flight. Jaclyn LaSita (Wading River, NY/Shoreham-Wading River) and Caitlin O'Brien (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) won four matches at the third flight.

Napolitano will also look to help navigate her team in the singles landscape.

Dumas added, "This will be [Napolitano's] fourth time playing this opponent in two years so she has a good understanding of who she is playing, which helps."

At the third flight, the sophomore has registered an 8-2 mark granting her the highest win percentage amongst her teammates. She played the closest match against the Bombers this season, 6-2, 6-3 over Caroline Dunn. 

Also in the forefront for the Hawks is Rice. The junior, a former conference Player of the Week and a top flight representative, looks to a probable matchup with Ithaca's Haley Kusak.

"[Rice] has seen some high-level of play this year." Dumas continued. "She enjoys the challenge of playing Haley Kusak."

Earlier this season, Kusak handed Rice her first setback, 6-2, 6-1. Rice is 8-3 on the year.

Spending most of the season at the second flight has been Natoli. The sophomore has gone 2-7.

Ryan at the fourth flight and O'Brien at the fifth, have each split 10 matches at their respective positions.  O'Brien has logged an additional win at no. 4.

The sixth spot has seen the likes of Caitlin Hawley (Camillus, NY/West Genesee) (3-0) and most recently, LaSita (4-4). LaSita has won her last two and also picked up a win at the fifth slot.

The semifinal round Friday also features no. 2 Stevens and no. 3 Nazareth at 1 p.m. The winners of each match will advance to compete Saturday in the championship round at 10:30 a.m.

Dumas ended, "This matchup presents a good challenge and will be good for our team."