ROCHESTER, NY – The Utica University women's tennis team continued its 2026 season on Saturday afternoon, traveling to St. John Fisher for an Empire 8 clash. The contest was the team's third outing in four days, wrapping up a busy week for the orange and blue.
Utica opened the match with a strong effort in doubles play. Lyndsey Tiedemann (Salt Point, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt) and Averi Kraeger (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) battled at No. 1 doubles, falling to A. Colafranceschi and Sydney Emerson, 7-5, in the closest doubles contest of the afternoon. The match was a back and forth bout between the top talent from each team, with the Pioneers putting forth a promising effort in the opener. Eh Nay Than (Utica, NY/Thomas R. Proctor) and Alexis Brennan (Vernon, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) also put together a competitive performance at No. 3 doubles before dropping a 6-4 decision to Maura Matthews and Sara Martin.
The Cardinals carried the momentum into singles play, earning victories in all six matches. Tiedemann competed at No. 1 singles, while Kraeger, May, Burton, Than, and Brennan rounded out the Pioneers' singles lineup.
Burton turned in Utica's strongest singles performance of the afternoon, taking four games in the opening set and three in the second set against Anna Exford at No. 4 singles. Tiedemann also battled at No. 1 singles before falling to Lily Miller, 6-2, 6-0.
The Pioneers will look to regroup and continue developing their chemistry as Empire 8 play continues.
