SKILLMAN, NJ -- The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) has bestowed additional regional honors on three Ephs who have played a large role in the Williams women’s team compiling a 20-3 record to date and advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Senior captain Grace Baljon, who plays #1 singles and #1 doubles for the Ephs has been named the ITA’s Northeast Senior Player of the Year. Taylor French, a sophomore was named the Player to Watch, which is believed to be a first for a player who almost exclusively competes in doubles play. Swain was named the Coach of the Year.
All three Eph ITA honorees are now on the ITA ballot for
national honors that will be announced on May 27, 2010 in
Fredericksburg, VA.
Baljon, French and head coach Alison Swain added to their list of
2010 honors as they were all accorded previous recognition by
NESCAC. Baljon and French collected First Team All-NESCAC doubles
laurels and Baljon was also named First Team in singles and Senior
Sportswoman of the Year. Swain was voted the NESCAC Coach of the
Year.
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| Grace Baljon '10 |
“Grace’s improvement this year is most notable in
her increased court speed, net play in singles, and aggressiveness
from the back court,” stated Alison Swain. “She has
always used her serve and backhand to dictate play from behind the
baseline. However, this year she has become formidable on the run,
and consistently looks to play inside the baseline to put pressure
on her opponent and gain an opportunity to put the ball away.
“In terms of academic leadership, Grace has always set an
example for time management and an emphasis on academics in concert
with her tennis goals. She has been a member of our ITA
Academic Team award three years running, and a Williams College
Scholar Athlete each year, which she has been eligible. She
was also recently one of only 12 students to be accepted into
Christie's graduate program in Art History and Business.”
“Grace is also an excellent sportswoman as evidenced by her
receiving the NESCAC Senior Sportswoman of the Year award.”
“Taylor French is an outstanding doubles player who has worked hard to improve her game during her sophomore year,” Swain noted. “She moved up this fall from freshman year playing #2 doubles to pairing with Grace at #1 doubles.”
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| Taylor French '12 |
“More than her tremendous doubles record, Taylor brings to
our team the highest level of understanding of doubles strategy.
She is fearless at net and moves instinctually to cover volleys and
overheads.
“Taylor's greatest quality is her love for the game and
competition,” continued Swain. “She always has a smile
on her face when she plays and a spring to her step. Even in the
toughest of competitive moments, the team credit's Taylor with
bringing a sense of light-heartedness to the moment, alleviating
the pressure and focusing on simply competing as best she can. I
cannot name the number of times that Taylor has come up with a
crucial volley or dug out a shot right at her feet to close out a
match. She plays her best under pressure, yet by looking at
her, you would think she was having the most fun of anyone out on
court.”
Swain has fashioned quite a career at the helm of the Ephs in two plus years. Heading into the third consecutive appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals under Swain the Ephs are 12-0 all-time in the NCAA tourney and have won the title the last two years.
Impressive as her current overall record at Williams is at 62-8 (.886), it is also worth noting that her Eph teams have never lost to a team that was not nationally ranked. Never one to shy away from stiff competition, Swain has tested her team each spring with the toughest spring break competition she can find.
A 2001 Eph graduate, Swain was a doubles player on the first Eph NCAA championship team as a senior and with those five wins and her current skein of 12 as a coach she has authored a 17-match NCAA Tournament win streak.
Next up for the Ephs is a match vs. Gustavus Adolphus at the NCAA Quarterfinals next Tuesday afternoon at Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, VA.
