ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca College women's tennis team swept the doubles matches and went on to win two singles matches to defeat Nazareth 5-0 in the Empire 8 Women's Tennis championship match on Sunday at the Wheeler Tennis Courts. The Bombers claimed their ninth consecutive Empire 8 title and earned automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship in May. Graduate student Allison Young was named as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The Bombers started the championship match with an 8-1 win at third doubles by Alyssa Steinweis and Allison Vizgaitis. At second doubles, Marni Blumenthal and Carly Siegel posted an 8-3 win to give the Bombers a 2-0 lead in the match. Young and Haley Kusak finished off the doubles sweep for Ithaca with an 8-4 win at first doubles.

Young went on to a 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles for the Bombers and Blumenthal finished off the dual match with a 6-0, 6-0 win at fifth singles. The other singles matches were unfinished, and Ithaca led in three of those four matches.

Young's victories on Sunday were in addition to her first-doubles win in Saturday's semifinal dual over the ITA regional doubles championship team from Stevens.

Ithaca finished its fall campaign with a 10-0 dual-match record. A complete box score is below.

Video Interview - Head Coach Bill Austin



Video Interview - Tournament Most Outstanding Player Allison Young




Empire 8 Championship
10/20/13 at Ithaca, N.Y.
(Wheeler Tennis Courts)

Ithaca 5, Nazareth 0

Singles competition
1. Haley Kusak (IC) vs. Alison Tepas (NAZ) 4-6, 1-1, unfinished
2. Allison Young (IC) def. Sara Kashtan (NAZ) 6-0, 6-1
3. Allison Vizgaitis (IC) vs. Jean McCarthy (NAZ) 6-0, 4-2, unfinished
4. Carly Siegel (IC) vs. Ami Petosa (NAZ) 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
5. Marni Blumenthal (IC) def. Adrienne Sharza (NAZ) 6-0, 6-0
6. Alyssa Steinweis (IC) vs. Elizabeth Crane (NAZ) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Haley Kusak/Allison Young (IC) def. Sara Kashtan/Alison Tepas (NAZ) 8-4
2. Marni Blumenthal/Carly Siegel (IC) def. Krista Pagan/Adrienne Sharza (NAZ) 8-3
3. Alyssa Steinweis/Allison Vizgaitis (IC) def. Jean McCarthy/Ami Petosa (NAZ) 8-1

Team Records:
Nazareth 7-5
Ithaca 10-0

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,5)

Ithaca earns automatic qualification to the 2014 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships