UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's tennis team lost to Russell Sage 5-4 in an Empire 8 Conference match. The two teams then played a non-conference match and the Sage Gators won 5-2.
 
In the first doubles match Ellen Lyga (New Hartford, NY/Notre Dame) and Selma Dizdarevic (Utica, NY/Proctor ) had a hard fought match yet ended up falling 8-6. Paetra Heeran and Haley Dekin (Castorland, NY/Lowville Academy) played phenomenal today and won their doubles match 8-1. The Pioneers did their job and took two out of the three matches in doubles. In singles play Ellen Lyga (New Hartford, NY/Notre Dame) and Selma Dizdarevic (Utica, NY/Proctor ) dominated as they both recorded 8-1 wins over their opponents. Victoria Elefante (Clinton, NY/Clinton) and Jackie Roberts (Herkimer, NY/Notre Dame) both went down to the very last point in their matches and ended up falling late. The Pioneers played well today yet; the Sage Gators were able to come out on top 5-4.
 
In the non-conference match, the Pioneers were swept in doubles play, yet fared better in singles play. Lyga won her singles match 8-4 and Jackie Roberts (Herkimer, NY/Notre Dame) won 8-3 as both played well today for Utica. Dizdarevic and Dekin both were unable to win their singles matches yet played hard in their sets losing late. The Gators were able to win this non-conference match 5-2.
 
Utica (1-8, 1-5 in Empire 8) will conclude its regular season tomorrow as they travel to Oneonta, NY to play Hartwick College at 1 p.m.