Posted: Oct 06, 2010
FREDONIA, N.Y. - The 27th annual State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tennis Championship begins its three-day run Friday October 8 at 4 p.m., and many of the most compelling players are the same as in years past. The championship will take place at the Eastside Racquet Club in Manlius with competition running through Sunday afternoon.
Under the direction of Jim Chen, Geneseo is a fundamentally sound team that has posted a 7-1 record in 2010 and will be looking to claim its third consecutive team title. Junior Monica Vieth (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) is 6-2 at No. 1 singles and has played at No. 1 doubles with two different partners, finding the greatest success with junior Julia Passik (Holliswood, NY/Benjamin Cardozo). The tandem is 5-1 on the season. Passik is the two-time defending SUNYAC champion at third singles and carries a 4-1 record into the tournament. Freshman Lucy Mehrebyan (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca) is perfect in second singles and second doubles with an unblemished 5-0 record at each.
The New Paltz women are paced by sophomore Montana Wilson (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay), who has a current 14-7 overall record, competing mainly at second singles and second doubles. She comes into the tournament with momentum, having won three straight matches. Wilson was the lone Hawk to win a conference title in 2009 in the second singles flight, a title a New Paltz player has won five of the last eight years. Kayla DiPaulo (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) has a 16-6 overall mark, playing mainly fourth singles and second doubles. She is 6-0 at fourth singles. New Paltz is looking to re-claim the SUNYAC championship after a two-year absence from the pedestal and has recently swept Brockport, Western Connecticut and Rensselear. The Hawks are 7-1 on the year and are scheduled to face Vassar on Wednesday October 6.
Cortland Head Coach Tom Spanbauer will rely on junior Stephanie DiCapua (East Quogue, NY/Westhampton Beach), as the only returning all conference honoree from a season ago, to help lead the 2010 edition of the Red Dragons at the championship. DiCapua will look to build on her successful '10 campaign that has her posting a 9-3 singles record and 7-5 at doubles. Gabriela Medina (Rock Hill, NY/Monticello) has been solid in the middle of Cortland's lineup with an 9-2 record at No. 4 singles this year, and has teamed up with sophomore Loraine Jelinek (Homer, NY/home schooled) to accumulate a 7-3 record at No. 2 doubles.
Oneonta returns three all-conference players from a year ago including sophomore Danielle Browarski (Colonie, NY/Colonie) who finished as the runner in the fifth singles flight a year ago at the championship. Browarski took a big leap up to first singles this year where she leads the team with a 6-2 record and has teamed with senior Emily Shannon (East Northport, NY/Northport) at first doubles. The tandem is 4-3 on the season with a three-match winning streak heading into the conference championship. Sophomore Elizabeth Flamman (Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) returns to third doubles with a new partner this year and a current 5-2 record and hopes to compete in the championship match again.
Brockport has won two of its last four matches to improve to 5-9 on the season heading into the weekend tournament. Freshman Ellen Meyers (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) has provided a spark for the Golden Eagles this season. She has a 7-7 singles record on the year, including a 5-5 mark at No. 5 singles and has played with three different partners at second doubles with a 5-8 record. Transfer Jen Lazarony (Corfu, NY/Pembroke) has accumulated a 7-3 mark at the No. 6 position, after not competing in her first three years of college.
Brockport has won two of its last four matches to improve to 5-9 on the season heading into the weekend tournament. Freshman Ellen Meyers (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) has provided a spark for the Golden Eagles this season. She has a 7-7 singles record on the year, including a 5-5 mark at No. 5 singles and has played with three different partners at second doubles with a 5-8 record. Transfer Jen Lazarony (Corfu, NY/Pembroke) has accumulated a 7-3 mark at the No. 6 position, after not competing in her first three years of college.
Fredonia, Plattsburgh, and Oswego will also be in action at Eastside. Fredonia's squad is led by seniors Anna Norris (Binghamton/Susquehanna Valley) as the No. 1 singles player and Calee Prindle (Geneva/ Geneva) as the No. 2. Each player has posted three individual wins on the season and have combined for three additional wins at No. 1 doubles. Sophomore Rachel Hodnett (Malta, NY/Ballston Spa) has been Plattsburgh's #1 singles competitor all season, logging a 6-3 overall record and Jessica Paquette (Enosburg Falls, VT/Bellows Free Academy) has won three of her last four matches at No. 2 and is 5-4 overall. The Cardinals are scheduled to host Castleton State on Thursday at 3:30 with the hopes of snapping a three-match losing skid before tournament competition begins. The Oswego Lakers are led by freshman Nicole Leader (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker), who began the year at third singles but has played the last three matches at the second spot earning two wins.