May 11, 2009

Baljon, Gibson, Reich, Alotta and French earn All-NESCAC honors; Swain Co-Coach of the Year


Nikki Reich '11

Five members of Alison Swain's 18-2 Williams team that is headed to the NCAA quarterfinals seeking to defend last year's NCAA title have been named All-NESCAC.

Junior Grace Baljon (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) and sophomore Nikki Reich (Westfield, NJ) were named to the conference's First Team in singles play and Reich was also named to the First Team in doubles play along with senior captain Cary Gibson (Augusta, GA).

Baljon, who studied in Spain in the fall semester, has posted a record of 10-4 mark in singles play at the top of the lineup. Reich, the #3 singles player has compiled a record 22-3 in 2008-09 and is 11-2 in the spring. On the doubles courts this year Reich has helped generate a record of 27-7, 10-6 this spring.

Baljon currently boasts a career record of 68-10 in singles play and is 58-11 in doubles play. Reich's career totals now stand at 45-8 in singles play and   she is 54-12 in doubles play

The Gibson and Reich duo is the Ephs top tandem and this academic year they have posted a record of 26-7 to date in collecting First Team honors.

Earning Second Team honors in singles play was freshman Kristin Alotta (West Islip, NY) who has a glittering mark of 26-1. Her lone collegiate loss came at the hands of Cary Gibson in the ITA New Englands in September. Since that match Alotta has run her win streak to 22. This spring she has fashioned a 15-0 record.

The doubles tandem of Baljon and freshman Taylor French (Hidden Hills, CA) earned Second Team recognition by posting a ledger of 13-1.

Alison Swain was named the Co-Coach of the Year along with Kate Bayard of Tufts. Swain, who won the NCAA title in her debut season a year ago, has guided the Ephs to an 18-2 record thus far and a return to the NCAA quarterfinals. Swain boasts a career mark of 39-5 at Williams and she was member of the first Williams team to win the NCAA title (2001).

The Ephs will next play on Tuesday, May 19 in Lawrenceville, GA vs. Denison.

Cary Gibson Grace Baljon
Alison Swain Kristin Alotta Taylor French