PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The top-seeded St. John Fisher College women's tennis team will play for a conference championship for the first time in team history after defeating fourth-seeded Houghton College, 5-0, on Friday in the semifinal round of the Empire 8 Championship at Mendon Pool and Racquet Club.

The Cardinals, who have now won four consecutive matches, moved to 8-3 on the season while the Highlanders had their year come to a close with a 5-9 overall mark.

Fisher made quick work of Houghton in doubles play as the Cardinals swept all three points to put themselves in a strong position.  At first doubles, Kaili Saffran and Cassidy Bell paired up for an 8-5 win while Mikayla Santulli and Zuzanna Pociecha came out on top, 8-3.  Fisher picked up its third point at third doubles behind an 8-3 decision by Jacqueline Chouinard and Valerie Morgans.

In singles play, the match would be decided in the first two flights as Saffran continued her dominant play with a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles.  The Webster native has not lost in one-on-one play this season and extended her winning streak to 10 matches.  Cassidy Bell would clinch the match and punch Fisher's ticket to Saturday's finale with a 6-3, 6-2 win at second singles.

The Cardinals will lock horns with second-seeded Nazareth College at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Mendon Racquet and Pool Club as the winner of that match will earn the Empire 8's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship, which is slated to begin in May 2020.  The Cardinals defeated the Golden Flyers, 6-3, earlier this season for the first time in nearly two decades.