Stevens Institute of Technology Jessica Bourque picked up her third major conference honor in three seasons as she was named the Empire 8 Player of the Year for the second time in her career as part of the 2013 E8 Women's Tennis All-Conference awards. Ithaca newcomer Haley Kisak garnered Rookie of the Year accolades, while Elmira College mentor James McGuire was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
Bourque recorded a perfect record in singles play in dual matches during the fall (9-0) including a 6-0 record in E8 outings. She was 14-1 overall in singles play with a 4-1 showing at the ITA Northeast Regional and additional singles win in the E8 semifinals. Bourque and partner Lisa Tessitore went a combined 15-3 in doubles action; 10-0 in dual matches and 5-3 in tournament play. In addition to her Player of the Year honor, she earned first-team all-conference honors in both singles and doubles play.
Kusak went a combined 10-3 in regular season singles and tournament play this fall including a 6-0 mark against Empire 8 foes. In dual match doubles action, she went 5-2, including a 4-0 mark at first doubles. Kusak helped the Bombers to their ninth straight conference crown winning second doubles in the semifinals and first doubles in the championship match.
McGuire led the Soaring Eagles to one of its best seasons in program history as they concluded the season with a 6-3 overall record and a 5-2 mark in Empire 8 standings. Elmira defeated Stevens for the first time ever in the regular season and qualified for the E8 tournament as the third-seed for the first since the format changed from eight teams to four teams in 2007.
One member of each team was named that institution’s representative on the 2013 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 2013 Women’s Tennis All-Conference Teams