Lakers win SUNYAC title in women’s tennis for the 1st time in program history 

In a match that went the distance, it was the Oswego State women’s tennis team that prevailed over SUNY Oneonta to win the SUNYAC championship for the first time in program history.

Oswego’s season is one of interest after starting off 0-2; the Lakers will finish the fall regular season and conference playoffs on a win streak of 12 consecutive matches, but most importantly, they can finally call themselves champions of the SUNYAC after 56 years of waiting.

“Winning the school’s first SUNYAC Championship in Women’s tennis is a great accomplishment for me in the first year as a college head coach and I am immensely proud of everything this team has accomplished.” Oswego women’s tennis coach Mark Baker said, “I know the team is thrilled to have their first championship experience, and they have worked so hard from preseason until now. “

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The second-ranked team in the SUNYAC, Oneonta, started strong in the doubles portion of the event by easily claiming the No. 1 match, as the second-best SUNYAC women’s tennis doubles duo, Annika Cripe and Haley Peck, defeated Leah Bell and Emily DeLuca, 6-0.

But it was Oswego who fought back and secured the doubles portion of the match by winning the majority of the three matches. Isabella Eason and Kate Hayes defeated Taylor Plue and Kiersten Rufrano, 6-3, at No. 2 doubles, while Avery Borman and Aubrey Salati earned a 6-4 victory over Dakota Jimenez and Ashley Glaviano in No. 3

The teams split the six singles matches. Emily DeLuca defeated Taylor Plue, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 3 singles, while Eason topped Rufrano in three sets, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1, at No. 4. Salati added a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Reagan Knapp at No. 6.

Oneonta earned singles victories at Nos. 1, 2, and 5. Haley Peck defeated Borman, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 1, while top rated SUNYAC singles player Cripe beat Bell, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 2. Jimenez secured the Red Dragons’ third singles point with a 6-0, 7-5 victory over Hayes at No. 5. Oswego’s three singles wins, combined with its doubles advantage, secured the 4-3 decision.

Eason was named the 2026 SUNYAC Women’s Tennis All-Tournament Most Valuable Player. At the end of the fall, Eason logged the second-best singles winning percentage at .846. The aforementioned Eason, Hayes, Salati, and  Borman earned all-tournament recognition in doubles. Salati and DeLuca were also named to the singles team alongside Oneonta’s Dakota Jimenez, Haley Peck and Annika Cripe.

Borman earned Second Team All-SUNYAC honors at No. 1 singles after competing at the top spot in every match. The selection marked her second consecutive season receiving all-conference recognition, underscoring her consistency against the conference’s top competition.

Baker applauded his captain not as a player but also as a leader that everyone looks up too.

“Our captain Avery Borman, along with others that have leadership roles on the team, does a fantastic job of creating an environment where our players feel heard, supported and genuinely cared for as an individual.” Baker said, “I hope this championship means continued growth and success for our women’s tennis program and to continue building a culture that brings success.”

DeLuca also earned Second Team All-SUNYAC honors in singles after posting a 9-3 record at No. 3. She closed the season on a seven-match winning streak.

Rounding out Oswego’s honorees was Eason, who earned Second Team All-SUNYAC recognition at singles after leading the Lakers with an 11-2 record. Eason’s strong finish included an 11-match winning streak and an undefeated 4-0 performance in the SUNYAC Tournament. Her tournament run earned her the 2026 SUNYAC Women’s Tennis All-Tournament Most Valuable Player award.

The Lakers have one final regular-season match against Brockport scheduled for the spring before turning their attention to the NCAA Division III Tournament.