Rochester, N.Y. - The Ithaca men's tennis team (16-4) swept all six singles matches en route to an 8-1 win over Hartwick (8-9) in an Empire 8 Men's Tennis Tournament semifinal match Saturday at the Rochester Institute of Technology. It was Ithaca's 16th win of the season, which is a school record.

The Bombers led 2-1 after doubles play. The first doubles team of junior Taylor Borda (West Morris-Mendham/Chester, N.J.) and sophomore Josh Rifkin (Homestead/Ft. Wayne, Ind.) were 8-5 winners. The second doubles team of junior Danny Wolk (The Field School/Potomac, Md.) and freshman Jimmy Newton (Florida Virtual School/Englewood, Fla.) were 8-2 winners.

Rifkin, Borda and Newton won their singles matches in straight sets in the top three positions. Wolk rallied to win the second and third sets at fourth singles. Freshmen Mike Muraco (Fayetteville-Manlius/Manlius) and Dan Levine (Monroe-Woodbury/Highland Mills) won in straight sets at fifth and sixth singles.

The Bombers advance to Sunday's championship match at 10 a.m. against Stevens. The winner of the Empire 8 earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship tournament.

Tennis Match Results
Hartwick vs Ithaca
05/02/09 at Rochester, N.Y.

Ithaca 8, Hartwick 1

Singles competition
1. Taylor BORDA (IC) def. Jeff Boyd (HW) 6-4, 6-2
2. Josh RIFKIN (IC) def. Marcelo Navarro (HW) 6-0, 6-1
3. Jimmy NEWTON (IC) def. Matt Whitty (HW) 6-2, 6-2
4. Daniel WOLK (IC) def. Sean Barr (HW) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Mike MURACO (IC) def. Peter Dumas (HW) 6-3, 6-3
6. Dan LEVINE (IC) def. Michael del Rosario (HW) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Taylor BORDA/Josh RIFKIN (IC) def. Jeff Boyd/Marcelo Navarro (HW) 8-5
2. Jimmy NEWTON/Daniel WOLK (IC) def. Peter Dumas/Matt Whitty (HW) 8-2
3. Sean Barr/Michael del Rosario (HW) def. Andrew DUNNICK/Mike MURACO (IC) 9-8 (7-5)

Team Records:
Hartwick 8-9
Ithaca 16-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,1,3,4,5,6)
Empire 8 Semifinal at Rochester Institute of Technology