ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Houghton men's tennis finished its season with a 5-3 loss to Nazareth in the title match of the 2022 Empire 8 Tournament on Saturday.

The top-seeded Highlanders were looking to defend their conference title but got off to a slow start, losing two of three doubles matches vs. the No. 2 Golden Flyers.

Nolan Zach and Levi Webb got the lone Houghton doubles victory, taking the match 8-5.

After a Micah Schilke loss at first singles, Webb secured a 6-2, 6-3 victory at second singles and Jaimie Staerkle got the 6-3, 6-3 win in third singles to pull the overall match score to 3-3. However, Nazareth closed the match with wins at No. 4 and No. 6 singles. Fifth singles went unfinished.

The Highlanders, who were playing in their fourth-straight E8 title match, finished the season with a record of 12-11.