| 2026 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship Quarterfinals |
| No. 6 Alfred University (6-6, 4-4 E8) vs. No. 3 Hartwick College (6-5, 6-2 E8) |
| Tuesday, October 13th • 3 p.m. • Oneonta N.Y. • Wilber Park Tennis Courts |
| Weather Backup Site: SUNY Delhi Campus (The Bubble) at 2 p.m. |
ONEONTA, N.Y. – The third-seeded Hartwick College women's tennis team will begin its title defense and quest for a three-peat on Tuesday, October 13
th, hosting sixth-seeded Alfred University in the opening round of the 2026 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Hawks defeated Alfred 7-0 this past weekend, and have won nine straight matches against the Saxons dating back to 2021. Hartwick has won three of the last four championships, with Alfred winning in 2023 to break up the Hawks championship run.
ABOUT THE HAWKS: After championships in 2024 & 2025, Hartwick College brings a proven playoff team to the Empire 8 tournament. All six of the team's wins have come in conference action and they will look to continue their strong play against the E8 going into the weekend.
The Hawks roster consists of four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores, and one freshman, as it has a very experienced squad in 2026.
Hartwick is led by their ace atop the lineup in senior
Samantha Lantzy (Valatie, N.Y./Ichabod Crane), who will be in the running for Empire 8 Player after going 8-0 in conference action and 9-2 overall at No. 1 singles.
Senior
Gianna Leggieri (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) has been a strong presence for Hartwick near the top of their lineup, going 6-2 in league action, mostly at No. 3 singles.
Elise Beauharnois (Peru, N.Y./Peru) has emerged as a reliable presence in the Hawks lineup, posting a 7-3 overall record and 6-2 in conference action, splitting time mostly between No. 3 and No. 4 singles.
Senior
Autumn Millington (Rome, N.Y./Westmoreland) debuted this season for the tennis team and has been a strong piece of the puzzle for 'Wick, posting a 5-3 conference record, mostly at No. 4 singles. Junior
Tehani Courte (Noumea, South Province/UCO) joined the team has also been a welcome addition to the team, coming midseason and playing at No.2 singles where she was 3-1 in conference action.
In doubles action, Leggieri's pairings proved to be best, whether working with Lantzy at No. 1 doubles, or Millington at No. 2 doubles, as she posted an 8-0 record in league play. The likely combos of Lantzy and Courte, as well as Leggieri and Millington, were 3-1 and 4-0 in league action, respectively.
ABOUT THE SAXONS: The Saxons, the last team not named Hartwick to win an Empire 8 Women's Tennis title, will travel to central New York to take on the Hawks after a solid season that saw them finish at .500 in both overall and league action.
Becca Epping has been the strongest player for the Saxons this year, mostly playing at No. 2 singles, as she finished 8-4 overall and 4-3 in league play. Atop their lineup at No. 1 singles is Alyssa Seegert, who was 2-3 in conference play and 3-6 overall in the top spot.
Other notable players for Alfred in singles action are Alexis Gits and Elizabeth Madesen, who each finished conference play with 3-1 records.
The only consistent doubles team for Alfred this season has been Seegert and Epping who were 5-5 overall and 3-3 at No. 1 singles. Head Coach Jordan Crouch has shifted his doubles pairings throughout the season and will look to find the right parings for postseason action.
WHAT'S NEXT: The winner of this matchup will travel to Geneseo for the SUNYAC semifinals. Geneseo is the host, with the winner of Hartwick and Alfred taking on second-seeded St. John Fisher on Friday. The weather backup site for the semifinals and finals will be at Houghton University.
