Oneonta, NY - The SUNY Oneonta women's tennis team collided with rival SUNY Cortland at the Dr. Heissan Tennis Courts on campus in the latest edition of the Battle of Red Dragons tennis style.  With all important seeding implications for the SUNYAC tournament at stake, this matchup was billed as the biggest contest of the 2015-16 campaign thus far for the Oneonta women.  When the match was completed almost four hours after it began the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons were victorious winning by a score of 6-3 before a very enthusiastic home crowd.
 
Doubles play opened up the contest with Oneonta coming out on a mission and immediately taking control of the bout on all courts never letting Cortland get into any kind of groove.  The Oneonta number one team of senior Michelle Spencer (Homer/Homer) and sophomore Alana Green (Pittsford/Pittsford) quickly dismantled their opponents by getting that early break and going on to win 8-3. 
 
Junior Christine Santarsiero (Rye Brook/Blind Brook) and senior Samantha Butcher (Sidney/Sidney Central) continue to gel as a team in the number two doubles position.  They dropped the first game but won eight of the next nine games utilizing incredible teamwork and positive reinforcement for each other, the final score was in Oneonta's favor 8-2.  The newly formed team of freshman Aubrey Hodnett and freshman Faith Haedrich (Islip/Islip) quickly bonded and never let their opponents get a game and shut them out by a score of 8-0.
 
The 3-0 cushion going into singles play was vital as Cortland made it close by clinching three singles matches.  However, Green's consistent play at the number one spot was too much for her opponent as she scored a 6-4, 6-3 victory never trailing at anytime in the match.  Hodnett's impressive victory at the number six position was very notable with a score of 6-0, 6-2. Coupled with Green's triumph clinched the dual match in Oneonta's favor.  Santarsiero was stretched to a third set but outlasted her rival in a match of long rallies and great play by both combatants with the final score coming out also in Oneonta's favor  6-3, 1-6, 6-4.  Those victories made the final score 6-3 and the dual match along with  Red Dragon tennis bragging rights going to SUNY Oneonta.
 
The women will get back on the road and try and make it two in row when they take on The Pratt Institute Cannoneers at their Brooklyn, NY campus in the Athletics Resource Center beginning at 6 PM tomorrow.  They then return home for a matchup with the SUNY Farmingdale Rams on Sunday at 1 PM.
 

1. Alana Green (Pittsford/Pittsford) (ONEWT) def. Mia Hayes (CORTLAND) 6-4, 6-3

2. Nikaylah Williams (CORTLAND) def. Michelle Spencer (Homer/Homer) (ONEWT) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4

3. Katie Fineman (CORTLAND) def. Michelle Halpern (Rye Brook/Blind Brook) (ONEWT) 6-4, 6-1

4. Cait O'Rourke (CORTLAND) def. Samantha Butcher (Sidney/Sidney Central) (ONEWT) 7-6 (10-8), 6-4

5. ChristineSantarsiero (ONEWT) def. Michelle Coffey (CORTLAND) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4

6. Aubrey Hodnett (ONEWT) def. Daria Bystry (CORTLAND) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. Alana Green (Pittsford/Pittsford)/Michelle Spencer (Homer/Homer) (ONEWT) def. Mia Hayes/Nikaylah Williams (CORTLAND) 8-3

2. Samantha Butcher (Sidney/Sidney Central)/ChristineSantarsiero (ONEWT) def. Katie Fineman/Cait O'Rourke (CORTLAND) 8-2

3. Aubrey Hodnett/Faith Haedrich (Islip/Islip) (ONEWT) def. Michelle Coffey/Daria Bystry (CORTLAND) 8-0