PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's tennis team will look to reach the Empire 8 Championship finale for the third consecutive season as the Cardinals are set to begin their 2021 season at 4 p.m. on Friday, September 3rd at The College at Brockport.

Fisher, which won the Empire 8 Championship for the first time in its history in 2019, will return a wealth of talent from last year's squad that went 6-2 overall and pushed top-seeded Nazareth College to the brink in the 2020 Empire 8 title match.

Head coach Linda Gohagan, who was named the Empire 8 Coach of the Year two seasons ago, will rely heavily on her veteran leadership as Mikayla Santulli, Jacqueline Chouinard and Elizabeth Schneider are all set to return for their senior seasons. 

Santulli was the Cardinals' go-to at first singles last season and was named All-Conference by the Empire 8 in both singles and doubles play.  Chouinard went unbeaten in singles competition and posted a 3-1 mark in doubles play as she was named All-Conference on both fronts at the conclusion of her junior season.  Schneider had a breakout season a year ago as the Lyons native was named Third-Team All-Conference in doubles action after finishing the campaign with a perfect 5-0 mark.

Sophomores Kathryn Strait and Maddie Galvin are also primed for their second year in a Fisher uniform after each was named All-Conference by the league following their freshman season.  Strait was 4-4 in singles play a year ago and was subsequently named Second-Team All-Empire 8 before adding another All-Conference nod in tandem play with a 4-2 mark at first doubles. Galvin was critical down the stretch for Fisher as the Ballston Spa graduate won four of her six pairings in individual play to be named Third-Team All-Conference.

The team also has high expectations for Natalie Eisenson, Hannah Boshart, Riley Ellis and Keely Legnard.

Following its pairing with the Golden Eagles, the team embarks on its Empire schedule on Saturday, September 11th when it welcomes Hartwick College to Mendon Racquet and Pool Club before traveling to Oswego the following afternoon to face the Lakers.

On September 18th, Fisher makes its way to Utica for a matchup with the Pioneers before hosting two straight matches inside the dome beginning with SUNY Geneseo on September 24th.  The home stand comes to a close 24 hours later with Alfred University.

Fisher will duke it out with Houghton College on October 2nd before facing Nazareth College on October 8th in what will mark a rematch of last season's Empire 8 title game.  The team will also honor the members of its senior class prior to the match's commencement.

The regular season will conclude on the road as Fisher heads to the Capital Region to play Russell Sage on October 9th.

The Empire 8 Championship, which will take place at Houghton, is set to begin on Friday, October 15th.

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