The Houghton Women's Tennis Team closed out the weekend with their third win of the week in conference play. The thrilling 5-4 victory over Alfred University puts the Highlanders at 6-4 overall and 4-1 in the Empire 8. The win, which came on senior day, catapults the Highlanders into third place in the Empire 8 standings and puts them in a position to control their post season hopes. 

The match proved to be a tightly contested battle right from the start with some incredibly close doubles matches. Chloe Esch and Elise Swanson would get the Highlanders on the board first taking the first flight 8-4. Following right behind them, Alexandria Leary and Marilynn Amborski fought back from an early deficit to win 8-5 at the second position. Clancey Cockle and Arija Grant would fall just short at third doubles 5-8.

The Highlanders would transition to singles play needing three victories to seal the match win. They got just that from Chloe Esch, Marilynn Amborski, and Arija Grant. Esch would play her best match of the season winning 6-3, 6-2 at the second spot. Amborski would cruise to a 6-1, 6-0 win on court three, and finally Arija Grant would come out victorious 6-3, 6-0 at sixth singles. To close out the afternoon, Elise Swanson would fight for the first singles point, but fell just short 6-2, 1-6, 4-6 as she battled through a foot injury.

"It is always such a battle against AU and lucky for us today the bounces went our way," Coach Shilvock said after the conclusion of the match. "I have to shout out the whole senior class for fighting so hard for each other today. In particular, Chloe and Elise rebounded from a tough match yesterday and played absolutely lights out.. I am so proud of this team for being so gritty, and I am excited to finish out the regular season with the best week yet!"

The Highlanders will have some time to recover and will get back into action next Friday and Saturday when they take on the Rochester Conference schools of Nazareth and St. John Fisher.