PITTSFORD, N.Y. – For the second consecutive season, the St. John Fisher College women's tennis team will compete for an Empire 8 Championship after the second-seeded Cardinals held on for a 5-4 win over third-seeded Utica College on Thursday night in the semifinal round held inside Mendon Racquet and Pool Club.  With the win, Fisher moved to 6-1 and the year and will advance to Saturday's finale where it will face off with top-seeded Nazareth for the Empire 8 Championship.

The Cardinals secured two critical points in doubles play with Valerie Morgans and Jacqueline Chouinard pairing up for an 8-1 decision at second doubles.  Veronika Jurczuk and Elizabeth Schneider made quick work of their opponents at third doubles as the duo won every game in an 8-0 decision.

In singles play, Fisher found itself trailing in the match after the Pioneers won each of the first three flights to hold a 3-2 edge.  Trailing by a point, Amanda Thongsirimonghoun tied the match at three points apiece after earning a 6-0, 6-1 decision at sixth singles.  Jurczuk staked the Cardinals to a one-point edge after winning at fourth singles, 6-2, 6-4, to set up a winner-take-all with the outcome of the fifth set still looming.

With a chance to play for its second Empire 8 title in the last two years on the line, Fisher turned to Chouinard who held on for a 6-4 win in the first set.  The junior then came out on top in the second behind a 6-3 win to punch Fisher's ticket to the finale on Saturday.

Stay tuned to Fisher's athletics website for more details on Saturday's pairing at Nazareth.