Women's Tennis Tabbed Fifth in Skyline Preseason Poll
Lawrenceville, N.J. – After just their
first season as a Varsity program and an appearance in the Skyline
Tournament, the Rams have been tabbed to finish fifth in the
preseason poll, according to the conference's head coaches.
A season after capturing the Skyline Conference title with an
unblemished record, it is no surprise that Mount Saint Mary College
has been selected as the preseason favorite to capture the
conference's women's tennis championship again this fall. Head
coach Lorraine Brady's squad, which went a perfect 17-0 overall and
8-0 in Skyline play.
The closest conference victory Mount Saint Mary had last season
was a 6-2 victory over Bard College in the semifinals of the
Skyline Conference tournament. The Blue Knights had a strong lineup
from top to bottom which enabled them to win their third Skyline
women's tennis title. Mount Saint Mary had just one senior on last
year's squad, but that player was a key to the team's success. Gina
Trapini, the 2007 Skyline Player of the Year, was unbeaten at both
first singles and first doubles in dual-match play.
Coach Brady has a strong group of players ready to step up for
another run this season. Sophomores Justine Perna and Lindsay
Searle were both All-Skyline Conference selections as rookies last
season while junior Danielle Kehoe was also a second team
all-conference selection.
Mount Saint Mary should receive a strong test from Purchase
College. The Panthers have a strong anchor at the top of the lineup
in sophomore Melanie Lopez, the 2007 Skyline Conference Co-Rookie
of the Year. Margo Van Hoy and Nicole Wiktor, who occupied the
second and fourth singles positions, have graduated, but Purchase
returns three other starters as it looks to challenge for its first
Skyline title.
St. Joseph's College was perhaps the biggest surprise in the
conference, finishing 12-2 and advancing to the championship match
of the Skyline tournament. The Golden Eagles' only two losses came
against Mount Saint Mary. St. Joseph's returns the top four players
from last season's lineup, including sophomore Danielle Rufrano,
who was unbeaten in singles play (14-0).
SKYLINE CONFERENCE WOMEN’S TENNIS
2008 PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Place, Team, Points
1. Mount Saint Mary (6) 62
2. Purchase (2) 56
3. St. Joseph's-L.I. (1) 51
4. Bard 41
5. Farmingdale State 39
6. Sage 29
7t. Mount Saint Vincent 19
7t. Yeshiva 19
9. Polytechnic 8
(first-place votes in parentheses)