NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The #2E-seeded Norwich University men's tennis team (10-3, 4-1 Empire 8) will hit the road to #1W Nazareth University (11-7, 6-1 Empire 8) for an Empire 8 (E8) Tournament Semifinal match on Friday, May 2, at 1:00 p.m. on the Annette Shapiro Tennis Courts in Rochester, N.Y.

The Cadets are entering new territory in their first season as Empire 8 affiliate members, making their program debut in the conference semifinals.  It marks their second consecutive postseason appearance, following a berth in last year's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament, their first since the 2016 campaign.

Nazareth brings with it a tradition of postseason consistency, reaching the Empire 8 Tournament for a fifth consecutive year.  The Golden Flyers captured the 2022 league title and have finished as runners-up each of the past two seasons.

At stake is a berth in the Empire 8 Championship match on Saturday, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Tournament.

Nazareth University serves as host for this year's Empire 8 Championship, having secured the top spot in the West Division standings.  The day's other semifinal, featuring West No. 2 SUNY Oswego and East No. 1 Thomas College, is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. following the conclusion of the Norwich-Nazareth match-up.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Norwich:

• The Cadets are riding the strong form of Terrance Bayly-Henshaw (Scottsville, N.Y.), who was named Empire 8 Player of the Week after going 4-0 across singles and doubles last week.  He boasts an unblemished 11-0 record at No. 2 singles, while also contributing an 11-2 doubles mark.  Keagan Bakke (Gun Barrel City, Texas) continues to anchor the top singles position with a 10-1 record and remains a key doubles threat at 9-4.
• First-year standout Jaxson Redmond (Kennebunkport, Maine) has made an immediate impact with an 11-1 singles record and a dominant 12-1 mark in doubles, including 10 straight wins at the top flight.  Redmond has teamed with Bayly-Henshaw, Bakke, and Gabe Wettig (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) to remain one of the league's most versatile doubles players.

Nazareth:

• The Golden Flyers are paced by Max Funiciello and Noah Britton, each of whom have reached double-digit wins in singles play.  Funiciello has locked down the No. 2 spot with a 10-6 mark, while Britton owns a 10-7 overall record, including a 9-5 run at the fourth flight.
• In doubles, the tandem of Funiciello and Griffin Bond has solidified Nazareth's top pairing, producing a 10-5 record.  Meanwhile, the team of David Tuller and Pierre Ntonga has been nearly untouchable at third doubles, carrying a 7-1 record into Friday's match and riding a seven-match winning streak.

LAST TIME OUT:

• Friday will mark the first-ever meeting between the Cadets and the Golden Flyers.  The two programs have not faced off nor share any common opponents this season.
• Both squads have been well-represented in Empire 8 weekly honors throughout the year.  Norwich leads the conference with seven total awards spanning Player of the Week and Doubles Team of the Week nods, with Bayly-Henshaw, Bakke, Redmond, and Wettig all earning individual recognition.  Nazareth has also been in the mix, notching multiple awards through the standout play of Funiciello, Bond, Ntonga, and Tuller.

CATCHING UP ON THE COURTS:

• Nazareth heads into the semifinal on a three-match winning streak, having dispatched Alfred, Houghton, and St. John Fisher to close out the regular season.  The Golden Flyers are looking to return to the Empire 8 Championship match after falling to Houghton last year in the title match-up.  Nazareth concluded the 2024 campaign at 5-12 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
• Norwich, meanwhile, has posted one of the best seasons in program history, doubling last year's win total and dominating on the scoreboard.  The Cadets have outscored opponents 92-25 overall this spring, including a 61-17 edge in singles and a commanding 31-8 advantage in doubles.
• The Cadets are seeking their first-ever win over the Golden Flyers in Wednesday's semifinal match-up.

EMPIRE 8 TOURNAMENT BRACKET:

• Saturday, Apr. 26 - EAST QUARTERFINALS (Hosted by Norwich University)
  • #2E Norwich def. #3E SUNY Delhi, 8-1
• Saturday, Apr. 29 - WEST QUARTERFINALS (Hosted by SUNY Oswego)
  • #2W SUNY Oswego def. #3W Houghton, 6-1
• Friday, May 2 - SEMIFINALS (Hosted by Nazareth University)
  • #2E Norwich at #1W Nazareth, 1:00 p.m.
  • #2W SUNY Oswego vs. #1E Thomas College, 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 3 - CHAMPIONSHIP (Hosted by Nazareth University)
  • Semifinal Winners - TBD

Friday's winners will advance to meet in the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday, Mar. 3, at Nazareth University.  The winner will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Div. III Men's Tennis Tournament.