TROY, NY – Third-seeded Nazareth gave second-seeded Geneseo all it could handle on Friday afternoon in the Empire 8 Semifinals, falling 5-4 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After trailing 2-1 following the doubles action, Nazareth took three of six singles matches but it was not enough.
 
Nazareth falls to 8-5 overall, while Geneseo moves to 8-1. Geneseo will take on top-seeded Hartwick in the finals on Saturday after the Hawks defeated Sage 5-1.
 
Nazareth fell the Knights 8-1 back on September 18^th during the regular season, but gave the Knights a strong effort on Friday.
 
Geneseo took first and second doubles, however, Anna Spencer and Victoria Cioni cruised to an 8-2 third doubles win to make the score 2-1.
 
Kenna Ellis took the opening set at second singles 6-3, but fell in the next two sets by identical 6-1 scores.
 
In Nazareth's previous contest it was unable to secure any points in singles. Sarah Stone, however, picked up the first singles point for Nazareth, winning third singles 6-3, 6-0. 
 
Ali Klee won her fifth singles match 6-3, 7-5 and Spencer took her three-set match, 6-1, 1-6, 6-0.