UTICA, NY – The Utica University women's tennis team wrapped up its 2026 season on Saturday afternoon, hosting Nazareth University in an Empire 8 matchup during the orange and blue's senior day.
Utica opened the afternoon with doubles play, where senior star Lyndsey Tiedemann (Salt Point, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) and strong rookie Averi Kraeger (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) battled Anna Spencer and Lily Brady at No. 1. The Pioneer duo put together a strong effort, earning three games before falling 6-3. Hannah Loebbaka (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) and Andrea May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) also put together a competitive showing at No. 2 doubles, picking up four games against Victoria Cioni and Elizabeth Adamson before dropping a 6-4 decision. Hannah Slater (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central) and Saige Burton (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) competed at No. 3 doubles to wrap up the initial portion of the match.
The Pioneers continued to battle in singles action, led by Tiedemann at No. 1 singles. Tiedemann earned three games in each set against Brady, falling 6-3, 6-3 in her final collegiate contest. Alex Roberts (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit Valley) also put together a strong first set at No. 4 singles, taking four games against Paige Masrouri before Nazareth closed out the match.
Loebbaka, Kraeger, May, and Burton rounded out Utica's singles lineup as the Pioneers continued to compete through the final matches of the season. Although the Golden Flyers secured all six singles points, the Pioneers continued to gain valuable experience throughout a 2026 campaign that featured a number of new faces and strong individual performances.
The season also featured several encouraging moments for the Pioneers, including a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Russell Sage earlier in the week. In that contest, the team rallied after dropping the doubles point, winning four of six singles matches to secure victory. Tiedemann, Loebbaka and Alexis Brennan (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) earned straight-set victories, while Andrea May (McGraw, NY/McGraw) delivered the deciding point with a three-set comeback.
Saturday's contest brought the 2026 season to a close for the Pioneers, who will look toward a young core to help continue the program's goal of once again reaching the Empire 8 Tournament.
