ONEONTA, N.Y. — The dynasty rolls on. The Hartwick Women's Tennis team continued its Empire 8 dominance, defeating the Geneseo Knights to secure back-to-back conference championships and their third title in four years. The Hawks delivered in front of their home fans, closing out another remarkable season in storybook fashion.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Geneseo 1 Hartwick 4

• Location: Oneonta, N.Y. | Wilber Park Courts

• Records: Geneseo (9-3, 7-1 Empire 8)  Hartwick (13-2, 8-0 Empire 8) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hartwick Women's Tennis team went head-to-head with the Geneseo Knights in a rematch of last year's Empire 8 Championship final. After a hard-fought battle, the Hawks prevailed once again, claiming back-to-back Empire 8 crowns and their third conference title in four years.

The Knights, who handed Hartwick two of their three dropped points in conference play this season, entered as a familiar and formidable foe. The Hawks earned a 5-2 victory in the regular-season meeting on September 6 in Geneseo and knew they'd be tested again in the title match. As they've done all year, Hartwick set the tone early with dominant doubles play, using pace and power to overwhelm the Knights.

The reliable pairing of Samantha Lantzy (Valatie, N.Y.) and Lily Vanuga (Springville, N.Y.) continued their unbeaten run in conference play, blanking Molloy and Rava on the No. 2 court to get Hartwick rolling. Phoebe Olson (Jamestown, N.Dak.) and Gianna Leggieri (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) avenged their lone conference loss from earlier in the season — a narrow 7-5 setback — with a commanding 6-2 win over Catalano and Pipes to clinch the doubles point and give the Hawks the early edge.

In singles, Lily Vanuga continued her postseason brilliance, cruising to a 6-2, 6-2 victory to double the Hartwick lead. Maggie Van Valkenburgh punctuated her remarkable career with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles, closing her conference career with an unblemished 38-0 record.

Geneseo showed their resilience, taking the top flight after a long battle with Lantzy to get on the board. The Knights pushed for a comeback, leading late on the No. 5 and No. 6 courts, while Phoebe Olson found herself in a tense three-set duel with Rava after trading 6-1 sets. Gianna Leggieri chipped away in her match at No. 5, while Maddi Morrison fought to stay alive at No. 6, as the Hawks dug deep for every point in pursuit of the clincher.

Olson rose to the occasion, locking in during the decisive set and racing to a commanding 5-0 lead. With her teammates battling alongside her, she sealed the championship in emphatic fashion, taking the final set 6-1 to deliver Hartwick its second straight title — and the first time in program history the Hawks have won back-to-back Empire 8 crowns on their home courts.

Senior Phoebe Olson was named the 2025 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship Tournament MVP, earning the honor for the second time in her career. Junior Samantha Lantzy received the Empire 8 Women's Tennis Torchbearer Award, recognizing the highest GPA among the two finalist teams.

About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.