Ithaca Picked to Continue Women's Tennis Dominance
Ithaca College is the unanimous choice to capture its seventh 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 in 2010. Ithaca has won 42 consecutive conference matches, the most by any team in any conference sport in Empire 8 history, a streak that began on Oct. 7, 2003.
This year’s Empire 8 championship will be hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology Oct. 22-23 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.
Junior Cristina Nunez of the Bombers has earned Empire 8 Player of the Year honors in each of her first two seasons. She has also earned first-team all-conference recognition in doubles both years with her sister Melissa Nunez. Cristina Nunez captured the state title a year ago and was named Most Valuable Player of the Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Championship.
Stevens Institute of Technology, which finished third in the regular season and advanced to the conference tournament final last season, is the preseason pick to place second this year. Senior Nicole Portner has earned second-team all-conference honors in each of her first three seasons and was joined by first-year player Lisa Tessitore on the second team last year.
Nazareth, which secured a spot in the semifinals in last year’s championship, is the choice of the coaches to finish third this season. Sophomore Alison Tepas started off her career last season by being named to the all-conference first team after posting a 6-2 record in conference regular season play at first singles.
A very young Hartwick College team is the coaches’ selection to earn the fourth and final playoff spot this season. The Hawks feature nine first-year players and two sophomores on their 15-player roster.
St. John Fisher College is the coaches’ selection to place fifth this year with Alfred University following closely behind in sixth place. Senior Griffin Currie of the Saxons received honorable mention all-conference recognition last year after being named to the second team in her first two seasons.
Elmira College and Utica College are the coaches’ selections to finish seventh and eighth, respectively. The Pioneers are looking for their first conference win since records have been kept in the conference, dating back to the 2001 season.
2011 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Ithaca College 49 points
2. Stevens Institute of Technology 37
3. Nazareth College 32
4. Hartwick College 27
5. St. John Fisher College 24
6. Alfred University 21
7. Elmira College 13
8. Utica College 7