New Paltz Sports Information Department
New Paltz, NY — The NCAA rolled out its first regional rankings for Division III Women's Tennis Thursday with State University of New York at New Paltz freshman Justine Stanejko earning a spot as one of the top singles players in Region II.
Stanejko is the only player from the SUNYAC represented, joining Ava Deguzman (Baruch), Taylor Crain (Ithaca), Giada Zorzan (TCNJ), Dakota Fordham (NYU), Ida Krause (NYU), Nicole Ridenour (RPI), Josie Libby (Rochester), Grace Truong (Skidmore), Charlotte Roarty (TCNJ), Macey Dowd (Vassar) and Erin McCusker (Vassar). She is the first to earn an individual regional ranking since Trinity Chow in 2019.
"There's a lot of pressure on her coming in. A lot of expectations on her, so to get this kind of accolade so early on in her college career has been fantastic," said SUNY New Paltz coach Rob Bruley. "She's so levelheaded and quiet about it. I don't think she quite realizes what kind of honor it is to be up there with the elite of Division III women's tennis. It's so deserving. She puts a lot into her game. She works extremely hard in practice and loves to play, loves to compete. She is the perfect student-athlete."
Stanejko (Lakeland, NY) opened up her first season with the Hawks by going 8-0 in singles play, all at ones, while going undefeated through the SUNYAC. Her first loss of the season came over SUNY New Paltz's Florida Spring Break trip against Hardin Simmons versus regionally ranked Jacy Smith. She earned a win over RPI with Ridenour, who also landed as a top singles player in Region II playing at twos.
With four regular season matches left on the schedule, Stanejko is 10-5 in singles action with big matches coming up against Stevens and TCNJ.
"If she carries on like this there is that chance where she could get an invite to the NCAA Tournament and that's never happened with any of our athletes," Bruley said. "Trinity was the nearest. She was an alternate, but if she carries on playing like this — and we still got a couple of really good matches coming up for her against Stevens and College of New Jersey — if results go in her favor, I think there is a great chance she can move up in the rankings and possibly push for some recognition in the NCAA Tournament."
SUNY New Paltz is back home Saturday for a four-team tournament against Hartwick, Farmingdale and Cortland on the North Tennis Courts starting at 10 a.m.
To view the full NCAA Division III regional rankings, click here.
