CORTLAND, N.Y. - In a wild match featuring numerous momentum swings, visiting RIT edged Cortland, 5-4, after rallying to win a three-set battle at second singles.

RIT led 4-3 with two singles matches still running. At second singles, RIT's Shayna Ginster came back after losing the first set, 6-4, to Nikaylah Williams (Wheatley Heights/Half Hollow Hills West), to win the second set, 6-3. At that point, Cortland's Tina Wertman (Rochester/Caledonia-Mumford) had fought back at sixth singles from a 6-1 loss in the first set to RIT's Diana Kulawiec to win the second set, 6-3, and she led 3-1 in the third.

The drama played out from that point on the two adjacent courts as darkness started to creep in over the Cortland Tennis Complex. Kulawiec rallied from 4-2 down to tie the sixth singles match at 5-5, fighting off two match points at 5-4. Wertman - who was a late move into singles play due to an injured teammate - won the next two games to claim the set and the match.

Shortly before Wertman won her match (1-6, 6-3, 7-5), Williams took a 5-1 lead at second singles. Ginster, however, came all the way back to win the next six games to earn a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory to give the Tigers the team triumph. Williams did fight off two match points down 6-5 before Ginster scored twice to end it. The match ended at 7:29 p.m. with the players competing in practical darkness.

Cortland led 2-1 after doubles play. Williams and Mia Hayes (Binghamton/Chenango Forks) won 8-6 at first doubles and Isabella Arrigo (Sauquoit/Sauquoit Valley) teamed with Wertman for an 8-4 win at third doubles. RIT claimed second doubles, 8-3, behind Claire Casalnova and Kristen Zablonski.

RIT picked up wins in the first three singles matches completed. Zablonski won 6-0, 6-0 at fifth singles, Amelia Ying was a 6-1, 6-2 winner at first singles, and Casalnova won 6-1, 6-2 at third singles. Arrigo kept Cortland alive with a 6-1, 6-4 win at fourth singles, setting up the final dramatics at the second and sixth flights.

Cortland will compete in a dual match at St. John Fisher 4 p.m. Friday. In addition, the Red Dragons are scheduled to send Hayes and Williams to the USTA/ITA Northeast Regionals Friday through Sunday at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. That tournament was originally listed incorrectly on the schedule as being a Saturday-Monday event. Hayes and Williams are expected to each play in the singles draw and to play as a doubles team.

RIT 5, Cortland 4

Doubles:

1) Mia Hayes/Nikaylah Williams (CORT) def. Amelia Ying/Shayna Ginster, 8-6
2) Claire Casalnova/Kristen Zablonski (RIT) def. Kelliann Camp/Cassie Special, 8-3
3) Isabella Arrigo/Tina Wertman (CORT) def. Annie Steinbrink/Diana Kulawiec, 8-4

Singles:

1) Amelia Ying (RIT) def. Mia Hayes, 6-1, 6-2
2) Shayna Ginster (RIT) def. Nikaylah Williams, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
3) Claire Casalnova (RIT) def. Kelliann Camp, 6-1, 6-2
4) Isabella Arrigo (CORT) def. Annie Steinbrink, 6-1, 6-4
5) Kristen Zablonski (RIT) def. Olivia Terry, 6-0, 6-0
6) Tina Wertman (CORT) def. Diana Kulawiec, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5

Records after match:  RIT (Tigers) 2-0, Cortland (Red Dragons) 5-2