Women's Tennis | 10/14/2016 1:36:00 PM

HOUGHTON, NY - After sweeping doubles points, all top-seeded Ithaca needed was to be the first to two singles wins to advance to the 2016 Empire 8 Championship round. Without being able to negate Ithaca's advantage, the no. 4 Hartwick women's tennis team saw four singles matches go unfinished to see its season come to an end, 5-0.

Hartwick was making its second straight appearance in the Empire 8 Tournament and third in the last five seasons.

No. 2 doubles came the closest to earning 'Wick a doubles point. As the final flight to end, Kelly Napolitano (Mt. Sinai, NY/Mt. Sinai) and Kelli Ryan (Plattsburgh, NY/Seton Catholic) won three games against the opposition but would end up falling, 8-3, to Taylor Ginestro and Brianna Ruback.

In the singles portion, the fifth flight wrapped up play first with Kathryn Shaffer adding to her team's total. Over Caitlin O'Brien (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), Shaffer claimed a 6-0, 6-0 score.

Ithaca's Caroline Dunn outplayed Napolitano, 6-0, 6-1, to see her team advance.

The Hawks end their season earning an overall record of 8-5 including a 5-3 Empire 8 clip. The five Empire 8 wins ties for the program record, set last season.

Heidi Rice (Canandaigua, NY/Marcus Whitman) and Napolitano ended the season in the forefront for Hartwick each earning 8-3 singles mark. Spending most of her time at the top flight, Rice gathered a 6-3 record and went 2-0 at the second flight to start her season. Napolitano registered her mark all at no. 3.

Napolitano and Ryan conclude their run by earning the team's best record in doubles, 8-4.

Rice and Rose Natoli (Endwell, NY/Maine-Endwell) split their 12 matches together at no. 1 while Jaclyn LaSita (Wading River, NY/Shoreham-Wading River) and O'Brien went 4-5 at no. 3.