Ithaca Tabbed as Preseason Favorites in Women's Tennis
August 28, 2008
ROCH
ESTER, NY – Ithaca College is the unanimous choice to capture its fifth consecutive Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Championship according to a preseason poll of conference coaches. The Bombers posted a 7-0 regular season record and then captured the Empire 8 tournament to earn the conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship.
This year’s Empire 8 championship will be hosted by Stevens Oct. 11-12 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.
Melanie Cohen of Ithaca earned Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and first-team all-conference honors in singles and doubles (with classmate Melissa Nunez) in 2007. Senior Alyssa Jaffe garnered second-team all-conference recognition last season.
Stevens Institute of Technology is the coaches’ choice to finish second this year. The Ducks won a conference-high 14 matches overall a year ago, including a 7-1 mark in conference play and advanced to the Empire 8 championship match against the Bombers. Senior Whitney Bender was named to the all-conference first team in the Ducks’ first season in the league, while Allyson Kingman was selected as a first-team all-conference performer in doubles and a second-team singles player.
Rochester Institute of Technology, which finished in a three-way tie for third place in 2007 with Nazareth College and Alfred University, is the preseason pick to finish third this year. Sophomore Amanda Berg, a transfer from The College of New Jersey, was the New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year after going undefeated in singles and doubles.
Nazareth, which battled Stevens in a very close semifinal in last year’s championship, is the choice of the coaches to earn the fourth and final spot in the Empire 8 tournament this season. Senior Rachel Leonard has been named to the all-conference first team in singles and doubles in each of her first three seasons.
St. John Fisher College is the coaches’ choice to place fifth this year. Junior Laura Hale has been named to the all-conference second team in each of her first two seasons, and junior Katie Barlow joined her on the second team in 2007.
Alfred University, led by new coach Chris Yartym, has been chosen to finish sixth this season. The Saxons must replace four-time first-team all-conference player and 2006 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Player of the Year Katie Calfee.
Hartwick College is the coaches’ choice to finish seventh this year. Junior Betsy Breaznell is a two-time all-conference player, including a first-team selection in 2006. Sophomore Jennifer Lin was named to the all-conference second team in her rookie campaign.
Elmira College and Utica College are the coaches’ selections to finish eighth and ninth, respectively. Sophomore Rebecca Kingman of the Soaring Eagles received honorable mention all-conference recognition in her rookie season.
2008 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Ithaca College 64 points
2. Stevens Institute of Technology 53
3. Rochester Institute of Technology 48
4. Nazareth College 42
5. St. John Fisher College 37
6. Alfred University 34
7. Hartwick College 23
8. Elmira College 15
9. Utica College 8