Ithaca Tabbed as Preseason Favorite in Women's Tennis
Ithaca College is the unanimous choice to capture its sixth consecutive Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Championship according to a preseason poll of conference coaches. The Bombers posted a 7-0 regular season conference record and finished undefeated overall in regular season play. Ithaca has won 35 consecutive conference matches, the most by any team in any Empire sport.
This year’s Empire 8 championship will be hosted by Ithaca Oct. 23-24 with the top four teams facing off for the conference title. The winner will again receive an automatic bid to the national championship held in May.
Sophomore Christina Nunez of the Bombers was the unanimous selection last season as Empire 8 Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. She also earned first-team all-conference honors in doubles with her sister Melissa Nunez. Senior Agata Kubik earned first-team all-conference recognition in first singles for the second straight year in 2009.
Stevens Institute of Technology, which finished second in the regular season and advanced to the conference tournament final, is the preseason pick to place second again this year. Senior Allyson Kingman of the Ducks (7-1 conference, 13-6 overall) has been named to the all-conference first team each of the past two seasons.
Rochester Institute of Technology, which advanced to the conference tournament final in 2008, is the coaches’ choice to place third this year. Senior Amanda Berg, the 2008 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, has earned first-team all-conference honors in each of her two seasons with the Tigers.
Nazareth, which secured a spot in the semifinals in last year’s championship, is the choice of the coaches to finish fourth this season. Senior Kelly Noble posted a 6-2 mark in Empire 8 play a year ago.
St. John Fisher College is the coaches’ selection to place fifth this year. Senior Elena Vahl earned first-team all-conference accolades last season.
Hartwick College, which finished fifth a year ago, has been chosen to finish sixth this season. Senior Kim Post garnered second-team all-conference honors last year. Alfred University is the coaches’ choice to finish seventh this year. Junior Griffin Currie, the 2008 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, has been named to the all-conference second team in each of her first two seasons.
Elmira College and Utica College are the coaches’ selections to finish eighth and ninth, respectively.
2010 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Ithaca College 64 points
2. Stevens Institute of Technology 55
3. Rochester Institute of Technology 51
4. Nazareth College 44
5. St. John Fisher College 33
6. Hartwick College 30
7. Alfred University 24
8. Elmira College 14
9. Utica College 9