SKILLMAN, NJ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) has announced that Williams College senior captain Grace Baljon (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL/Bolles School) and Siobahn Finicane of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges have been named the NCAA Division III Co-National Senior Player of the Year.
Baljon a three-time All-American in singles during her career finished second in the 2010 NCAA Singles Tournament and was an integral part of the Ephs’ current streak of three straight NCAA titles. “Grace showed tremendous heart and desire the day after the team competition, by demonstrating her toughness and love of Williams tennis, despite being worn out and slightly injured,” noted head coach Alison Swain. “She showed just how important it was to her to represent Williams tennis to the highest of standards by winning two singles matches on the first day [NCAA Singles Tournament], including beating the defending champion.”
Baljon advanced to her second appearance in the NCAA Singles semifinals and bounced back from a 1-set deficit to earn a berth in the finals, becoming just the second Eph to play for the NCAA Singles title. She is only the third Eph to play in two semifinals along with Steph Hall ’04 and Caroline Wasserman ’03.
"When I first met Grace, one of the things she told me about herself is that her favorite color is pink,” said Swain. “I remembering thinking, okay, I guess this girl is a great tennis player, but maybe she's not so tough. Despite her love of pink and ribbons in her hair, Grace has proven to be one of the toughest competitors in all of Division III tennis. Her legacy will live on for years to come in our program."
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| Grace Baljon won 174
singles and doubles matches in her Eph career |
As a senior Baljon was named 1st team All-NESCAC in singles and doubles, was voted the NESCAC’s Senior Sportswoman of the year in tennis, was named to the NESCAC All-Academic Team and is also an Eph Scholar-Athlete. In addition, she was named the ITA’s Northeast Senior Player of the Year.
Grace Baljon’s Eph career is highlighted by awards for tennis ability, scholarship and sportsmanship, prompting Swain to comment, “Grace is by far the most accomplished player in Williams tennis history with a career that has been highlighted by excellence on and off the court. Her leadership and her team-first attitude will also be greatly missed next year.”
Baljon never played lower than number two singles in her Eph career, with her final two years being at number one. Her 34-2 singles record as a sophomore, is a Williams record for most wins in a season and that year ended with her making it to the NCAA Singles Tournament semifinal round.
Baljon fashioned a singles record of 91-23 (.728)in singles play and compiled a doubles record of 83-20 (.814)
Baljon, a double major (art history and psychology), is of 12 accepted into the famed Christie’s Auction House Master’s of Art program that is centered on art history, connoisseurship and the art business.
