Hoboken, N.J. – The Ithaca women's tennis team (11-0) defeated the Rochester Institute of Technology 5-1 on Sunday to capture the Empire 8 Women's Tennis Championship. The Bombers earned the Empire 8 title for the fourth consecutive season and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship this spring. Senior Alyssa Jaffe (Pascack Hills/Montvale, N.J.) was named as the tournament's most valuable player.

The Bombers swept all three doubles matches to build a 3-0 lead. Senior Natalie Jenereski (Knoch/Butler, Pa.) and sophomore Agata Kubik (C.K. Norwid Gen. Lyceum/Czestochowa, Poland) were 8-6 winners at first doubles in the closest match of the day. They defeated the previously undefeated RIT tandem of Amanda Berg and Brianne Francisco, breaking RIT's serve with the proset tied at 6-6, followed by Kubik serving out the win in the first match.

Jaffe and junior Devra Reiman (Columbia/Maplewood, N.J.) won 8-3 at second doubles, and Melanie Cohe (Hatboro-Horsham/Ambler, Pa.) and Melissa Nunez (Morris Hills/Rockaway, N.J.) were 8-2 winners at third doubles.

Singles victories by Jaffe and Cohen clinched the win for Ithaca. The Bombers will host the New York State Women's Tennis Championship Friday through Sunday at the Reis Tennis Center at Cornell.


Tennis Match Results
RIT vs Ithaca
10/12/08 at Hoboken, N.J.

Ithaca 5, RIT 1

Singles competition
1. Amanda Berg (RIT) def. Devra REIMAN (IC) 6-1, 6-0
3. Alyssa JAFFE (IC) def. Alexis Stanley (RIT) 6-1, 6-1
4. Melanie COHEN (IC) def. Michele Caporali (RIT) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Natalie JENERESKI/Agata KUBIK (IC) def. Amanda Berg/Brianne Francisco (RIT) 8-6
2. Alyssa JAFFE/Devra REIMAN (IC) def. Kseniya Klyachko/Alexis Stanley (RIT) 8-3
3. Melanie COHEN/Melissa NUNEZ (IC) def. Joanna Cash/Sara Paduano (RIT) 8-2

Team Records: Ithaca 11-0, RIT 9-4

Ithaca wins Empire 8 Championship match for fourth consecutive season
Bombers qualify for NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship (May 2009)