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HADLEY, MA – Four members of the Williams College women’s tennis team (18-3) have been named All-NESCAC and head coach Alison Swain has been named the NESCAC Coach of the Year.
Senor captain Grace Baljon (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) and sophomores Kristin Alotta (West Islip, NY) and Taylor French (Hidden Hills, CA) were named to the First Team, while junior Nikki Reich (Westfield, NJ was named to the Second Team.
Both Baljon and Alotta were named All-NESCAC in singles and doubles play and French and Reich were recognized in doubles play. Baljon earned First Team honors in both singles and doubles play, while Alotta earned First Team singles honors and was a Second Team doubles honoree.
A four-year member of the Eph lineup Grace Baljon has compiled a career singles mark of 87-17 and she is 79-17 in doubles play playing primarily at number two and number one singles and doubles.
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| Grace Baljon '10 |
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| Kristin Alott |
“Grace is an exemplary leader as a senior captain this year,” stated Swain. “She has stepped up to play #1 doubles for the first time this year and has held her position at #1 singles with some very impressive wins. Overall though, it is Grace's belief in her teammates and her own ability to pull out big matches that has helped to propel our team to some of our best results this year. I'm thrilled that she has been recognized for her leadership, sportsmanship and skill by the NESCAC coaches. She has truly earned ever honor that has come her way.”
Baljon has earned NESCAC honors all four years. As a freshman she earned Second Team honors in singles and the last three years she has been a First Team selection. In doubles play she was a Second Team honoree in her sophomore and junior years and moved up to the First Team this year.
In addition, Baljon’s career and demeanor were recognized in a vote of the NESCAC coaches who named her the Senior Sportswoman of the Year.
Kristin Alotta has fashioned a glittering singles record in one plus seasons in the Purple Valley. Alotta is currently 53-4 in singles play, which included a string of 41 consecutive wins from last season into this season. A year ago Alotta was a Second Team singles award winner and this year she made her first appearance on the First Team, while also accruing Second Team doubles recognition.
Along with her stellar singles mark Alotta has teamed up to post a career mark of 41-12 in doubles play playing at primarily #2 and #3 doubles.
“Kristin is a tremendous team player,” states Swain. “The extra time on court she puts in, the desire to run down every single ball all comes from her dedication to her teammates and love for Williams tennis. Kristin has had a breakthrough year as a sophomore moving up from #3 doubles and #4 singles to play #2 doubles and #2 singles. She has really proven her tennis ability this year, and I'm looking forward to seeing her continued improvement the rest of this season and in the years ahead.”
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| Nikki Reich '11 |
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| Taylor French '1 |
Nikki Reich is marking her second year being named All-NESCAC. A three-year member of the Eph lineup Reich has won 67 singles matches against just 12 losses. Her doubles record is just as impressive with 72 wins and only 20 losses.
A year ago Reich was named First Team in singles and doubles and this year she joins doubles teammate Kristin Alotta on the Second Team and she also captured Second Team singles honors.
“ Nikki is a relentless on-court competitor,” Swain notes. “Throughout her career, she has won critical matches for our team in both doubles and singles. She consistently is able to focus on the point at hand and seems to never let the pressure of the moment in a match get to her. I know her teammates and myself as coach have a lot of faith in her ability to play her best tennis in our biggest matches.” Reich won point #5 to secure the Little Three title her freshman year vs. Amherst and won point #5 in the Washington & Lee match to win the NCAA title freshman year. Last year she also secured point #5 vs. Denison in the Ephs’ come from behind quarters win.
Last spring while teaming with Cary Gibson ’09 Nikki Reich advanced to the NCAA Doubles Sweet 16 and earned All-American laurels.
Taylor French and Grace Baljon form the Ephs’ top doubles pairing this season. Playing mostly with Baljon, French has delivered 40 wins for the Ephs, while losing just seven. This year in doubles this duo has molded a splendid record of 19-5.
“Taylor has done a wonderful job of improving her game and stepping up to play #1 doubles as a sophomore,” says Swain. “She brings a sense of fun and a love of the game to the court all the while maintaining a strong competitive desire. Taylor, or "Tots" as she is known on the team is consistently credited by her teammates for taking pressure off of everyone else through her fun antics on-court and big smile.”
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| Head Coach Alison Swain |
Baljon and French will compete in the NCAA Doubles Championship after the conclusion of the team championships and Kristin Alotta will be competing in the singles competition as will Baljon. In 2008 Baljon made it to the singles semifinals and last spring she advanced to the Sweet 16.
Last spring while teaming with Cary Gibson ’09 Nikki Reich advanced to the NCAA Doubles Sweet 16.Third year head coach Alison Swain collected her second consecutive NECAC Coach of the Year honor in leading the Ephs to an unblemished conference mark that totaled 8 wins.
Swain was a senior co-captain on the first Williams women’s tennis team to win the NCAA title (2001) and heading into this year’s NCAA Tournament she has directed the Ephs to two straight championships and three consecutive appearances.
In her two plus years at the Eph helm Swain has recorded an overall mark of 60-8 (.882) and owns an NCAA ledger of 10-0.
See complete 2010 All-NESCAC Team here.
