ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's tennis team stretched its Empire 8 dual-match record to 6-0 on Wednesday evening, scoring a 9-0 sweep over previously undefeated Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. The Bombers posted their fifth straight 9-0 sweep in the romp of the Hawks.
 
As has been the case through Empire 8 play, IC got off to a fast start with three wins in the doubles portion of play. Ithaca's third-flight tandem of Maddie Overholt and Kathryn Shaffer got the ball rolling with an 8-0 sweep of the Hawks' Caitlin O'Brien and Jackie LaSita. The Bombers' top tandem of Haley Kusak and Caroline Dunn continued their dominant winning ways with an 8-1 win over Heidi Rice and Rose Natoli.
 
Ithaca's second-flight duo of Brianna Ruback and Taylor Ginestro had the tightest battle in doubles play. They locked in a back-and-forth contest with Kelly Napolitano and Kelli Ryan; however, the Bombers' tandem outlasted the Hawks' pair for an 8-6 victory.
 
Shaffer continued her excellent play to stretch Ithaca's lead to 4-0 in the match. She swept Hartwick's O'Brien 6-0, 6-0 in the fifth flight. Kusak secured the victory shortly thereafter with a 6-2, 6-1 win in the top flight against Hartwick's formidable first-flight netter, Heidi Rice.
 
Ithaca's other straight-sets sweep came in the second flight, as Ruback blew past Hartwick's Natoli 6-0, 6-0 to give Ithaca a 7-0 lead in the match.
 
In the most competitive singles match of the evening, Dunn bested the Hawks' Napolitano 6-2, 6-3. Jodi Grosberg continued her winning ways with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Hartwicks' Kelli Ryan, while Overholt scored a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jackie LaSita to round out the 9-0 win.
 
Ithaca returns to action on Saturday, October 1, as the team heads to Rochester, N.Y., to square off with Nazareth College. The match is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.