Empire 8 Announces Women's Tennis All-Conference Team; Cristina Nunez of Ithaca College Sweeps Individual Awards
October 28, 2009
ROCHESTER, NY – Cristina Nunez of conference champion Ithaca College was the unanimous choice as 2009 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Bill Austin was selected as Empire 8 Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive year after leading Ithaca to its fifth straight conference title and fourth straight bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship.
Nunez went 7-0 at first singles in conference play and was named Most Valuable Player of the Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Championship after sweeping first singles and first doubles matches. She reached the semifinals of the state tournament and the quarterfinals of the ITA tournament earlier in the season. Nunez was also named to the all-conference first team in doubles, teaming with her sister Melissa Nunez.
Junior Agata Kubik of Ithaca earned first-team honors in singles for the second consecutive year, going undefeated in Empire 8 play and reaching the finals of the state tournament at second singles. The Bombers’ third doubles team of Sarah Hollis and Devra Reiman garnered first-team honors after going undefeated in Empire 8 play and overall, and capturing the third doubles state title.
Junior Amanda Berg of Rochester Institute of Technology, the 2008 Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, repeated as a first-team selection after posting a 7-1 regular season conference mark at first singles and at first doubles with Amanda Berg. The duo earned first-team recognition as well.
Junior Allyson Kingman of conference runner-up Stevens Institute of Technology was a repeat first-team selection after posting an 8-3 regular season mark in dual matches.
Junior Elena Vahl of St. John Fisher College and senior Elizabeth Way of Nazareth College were named to the all-conference first team for the first time. Vahl finished the season 8-0 in conference play and 16-2 overall at second singles. Way posted a 7-0 Empire 8 mark at third singles.
One member of each team was named that institution’s representative on the 2009 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 2009 Women’s Tennis All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Cristina Nunez, Ithaca College
Rookie of the Year: Cristina Nunez, Ithaca College
Coach of the Year: Bill Austin, Ithaca College