GENESEO, N.Y. - The Hartwick Women's Tennis team opened up their Empire 8 conference slate with a tough test in Geneseo but were able to take down the Knights on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Hartwick 5 Geneseo 2

• Location: Geneseo, N.Y. | Geneseo Tennis Complex

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

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Hawks have been strong on the singles court to start the season, pushing their record to 15-3.

• Hartwick has taken the last three matchups over the Knights, moving to 3-1 all-time.

• Gianna Leggieri, Maddi Morrison, and Maggie Van Valkenburgh stayed flawless, moving to 3-0 in singles play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hawks squared off against SUNY Geneseo in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2024 Empire 8 Championship and came away with a gritty 5-2 victory.

Hartwick set the tone in doubles play, as Maggie Van Valkenburgh (Highland, N.Y.) and Maddi Morrison (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) cruised to a 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles. Lily Vanuga (Springville, N.Y.) and Samantha Lantzy (Valatie, N.Y.) followed with a 6-3 triumph at No. 2, securing the doubles point for the Blue and White.

The Knights answered in singles with a win at No. 2, but Morrison put Hartwick back in front, grinding out a 7-5, 6-3 victory at No. 6. Geneseo tied the match at 2-2 before the Hawks delivered in dramatic fashion across the final courts.

Van Valkenburgh rallied for a three-set win at No. 3, dominating the final set 6-1. Vanuga battled back after dropping the first set, taking the second 6-3 to force a decisive third. Trailing 0-3, Vanuga showed incredible resilience, storming back for a 7-5 victory to clinch the match for Hartwick. Gianna Leggieri (Ballston Lake, N.Y) capped the day with another three-set win, sealing the 5-2 team triumph.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will square off against SUNY Delhi for a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, September 10 at 4PM at Wilber Park.

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.