Cristina Nunez of conference champion Ithaca College was named the Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Player of the Year for the second consecutive year as the 2010 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis All-Conference Team was announced.
Nunez went 6-0 at first singles in conference play and was named Most Valuable Player of the Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Championship after sweeping first singles and first doubles matches. She captured the state title at first singles, knocking off the top seed in the championship match. Nunez was also named to the all-conference first team in doubles for the second consecutive year, teaming with her sister Melissa Nunez.
Senior Melanie Cohen of Ithaca earned first-team honors in singles for the second time in her career, finishing 5-1 at second singles in conference regular season play. She also joined junior Becky Campbell as a first-team all-conference doubles team, going undefeated at second doubles.
Senior Amanda Berg of Rochester Institute of Technology, the 2008 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, was named a first-team selection for the third time in as many years at RIT. She finished Empire 8 regular season play 7-1 at first singles and advanced to the state semifinals. Berg and 2010 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Maite Vera Antelo earned first-team all-conference recognition at first doubles. Antelo also earned first-team accolades in singles, going undefeated in Empire 8 play at second singles.
Senior Allyson Kingman of conference runner-up Stevens Institute of Technology was a first-team choice for the third consecutive year after posting a 9-2 regular season overall record playing at first and second singles.
First-year player Alison Tepas of Nazareth College, who was named to the all-conference first team, posted a 6-2 conference mark in regular season play at first singles.
Bill Austin was selected as Empire 8 Coach of the Year for the sixth consecutive year after leading Ithaca to its sixth straight conference title and fifth consecutive bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship.
One member of each team was named that institution’s representative on the 2010 Women’s Tennis Sportswoman of the Year Team. Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete’s experience in conjunction with an institution’s educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.
Empire 8 2010 Women’s Tennis All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Cristina Nunez, Ithaca College
Rookie of the Year: Maite Vera Antelo, Rochester Institute of Technology
Coach of the Year: Bill Austin, Ithaca College
Women's Tennis All-Conference Release