Rams Picked Fifth in Skyline Conference Preseason Poll
for Women's Tennis with Automatic Bid at Stake
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – After going 10-1
overall, including 8-0 in Skyline Conference regular-season play
last fall, St. Joseph's College has been selected by the head
coaches as the conference preseason favorite in women's tennis. The
Skyline Conference champion will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA
Division III Championship for the first time in 2009-10.
Last season, St. Joseph's rolled into the Skyline Conference
championship with a perfect 10-0 record only to be derailed by
eventual champion Bard in the semifinals. With no seniors on last
season's roster, head coach Glenn Nathan has his squad positioned
for a run at a first conference title. The Golden Eagles return
three All-Skyline players in senior Danielle Rufrano, junior Terri
Leonard and sophomore Kathryn Wood. Rufrano went 9-1 overall,
including a perfect 8-0 at second singles. Leonard went a combined
8-3 at first, second and third singles. Wood was unbeaten in her
rookie season, playing primarily at fifth and sixth singles.
Mount Saint Mary, which finished second in the regular season
before falling to Bard in the conference championship had four
players earn All-Skyline honors last season. All four players
return in seniors Rebecca Schwartz (2nd), Danielle Kehoe (3rd),
Caitlin Giordano (4th) and junior Lindsay Searle (1st).
Bard captured the Skyline championship last fall after finishing
fourth in the regular season. The Raptors knocked off the top two
seeds, St. Joseph's and Mount Saint Mary, on the road on
back-to-back days to take the title. Sophomore Sofia Commito earned
Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year honors after going 9-2 at
first singles as a freshman. Fellow sophomore Chloe Stergides also
earned All-Skyline honors after going a combined 8-2 at second and
third singles.
Sage was the surprise team in the conference last season after
finishing third during the regular season. Led by senior Christina
Gray, the Skyline Conference Player of the Year, the Gators should
be in for another strong season this fall.
SKYLINE CONFERENCE
WOMEN’S TENNIS
2009 PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. St. Joseph's-L.I. (4) 60
2. Mount Saint Mary (3) 58
3. Bard (2) 48
4. Sage 42
5. Farmingdale State 38
6. Purchase 33
7. Yeshiva 21
8. Mount Saint Vincent 15
9. Polytechnic 9
(first-place votes in parentheses)