UTICA, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's tennis team improved to 2-0 in the Empire 8 standings behind a 7-2 decision at Utica College on Wednesday.  With the win, Fisher climbed to 3-2 on the season while the Pioneers closed out the day at 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

Kaili Saffran won her fourth consecutive point at first singles after the Webster native held a 3-0 lead before an injury forced her opponent to retire. 

Junior Cassidy Bell followed suit with a win of her own at second singles as the Pittsford native earned a 6-1, 6-0 victory.  Like Saffran, Bell has been nearly impossible to defeat in the early portion of the season with four consecutive wins in singles play.

Fisher would pick up two more flights as the match progressed with Zuzanna Pociecha and Jacqueline Chouinard coming out ahead in fourth and sixth singles, respectively.  Chouinard needed three games to best her opponent before taking the flight, 7-6, 4-6, 11-9.

In doubles play, Saffran and Bell teamed up in the first flight for an 8-2 win while Pociecha and Veronika Jurczuk overpowered their counterparts, 8-1.  The Cardinals completed the sweep in doubles action behind an 8-5 triumph by Cydney Bell and Valerie Morgans.

Fisher will break from team play to compete in the ITA Northeast Championship on Saturday at Hobart William Smith Colleges.  From there, the Cardinals will look for their third win in conference play at 4 p.m. on Wednesday when they travel to Houghton for a pivotal Empire 8 match.