WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- Alison Swain ’01 begins her third year as the Eph women’s tennis coach with back-to-back NCAA Championships to her team’s name and looking forward to playing one of the most competitive schedules yet.
On the potential pressure that the team may feel as the reigning two-time NCAA Champions, Swain comments, “We aren’t looking to live up to anyone’s expectations this year but our own. This fall, we will train hard, compete to the best of our ability, and come together as a team. Its going to be exciting to start the fall as the returning back-to-back NCAA Champions, but every year is a new one; and we know we will need to continue to improve this year to compete with the best in Division III.”
Lost to graduation is four-time All-American, 2007 ITA Regional Singles Champion, 2008 ITA Regional Doubles Champion, and 2008 NCAA Singles Runner-Up, Cary Gibson ‘09. “Cary was a tremendous competitor for our team. She played #1 doubles all four years and in the top three of our singles line-up. She really came through on court in the NCAA Championships both her junior and senior years and her leadership will certainly be missed.”
Also graduating last spring was co-captain Annie Hancock ’09 who was a 2009 All-NESCAC Sportsmanship award recipient and posted a record of 17-3 in singles play her senior year. “Annie truly played her best tennis her senior year. She was a consistently strong competitor in both singles and doubles play and her spirit and sense of team will be hard to replace.”
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| Ashley Parsons '10 |
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| Lucy Marchese '11 |
Returning to the 2009-2010 squad are senior tri-captains AshleyParsons’10, Genny Loomis ’10, and Grace Baljon ’10. Parsons has played as high as #3 singles for the Ephs and went undefeated singles play at the 2008 NCAA Championships to help her team bring home the title. Loomis made her mark on the doubles court last year primarily with partner Kristin Alotta ’12. Finally, Grace Baljon will return to the court as a two-time singles All-American for the Ephs. She played #1 singles and #2 doubles last year after returning from studying abroad in the fall of her junior year. Notably, she went 16-1 in doubles play with Taylor French ’12 and sealed the 2009 NCAA Championship with her 6-4 6-3 victory at #1 singles in the title match.
Also returning to the courts this season are juniors Lucy Marchese ’11, Nikki Reich ’11 and Katie Friedman ’11. Marchese returned to the court in singles play late last spring after recovering from knee surgery. Most notably, she went undefeated in NCAA singles play and was voted Most Improved by her teammates. Reich earned All-American doubles honors last year by winning the ITA Regional Doubles tournament with Gibson and went on to post a remarkable 24-3 singles record at the #3 spot earning All-NESCAC first team honors in both singles and doubles. Friedman, who is studying abroad this fall, will return to competitive play in the spring.
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| Kristin Alotta '12 |
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| Nikki Reich '11 |
The sophomore class returns a powerhouse of players in Kristin Alotta, Caroline Capute ’12, and Taylor French. Alotta made her mark in her rookie year by winning 25 straight singles matches for her team going 29-1 for the entire year losing only to teammate Gibson. She was also recognized as an All-NESCAC singles player. French played primarily #2 doubles recording a 16-1 record in the spring season including undefeated play at the NCAA Championships and recognition as an All-NESCAC doubles player. Finally, Capute saw limited playing time but will certainly via for a spot in the line up after she showed much improvement her freshman year on an already deep squad.
Swain will continue to develop the depth on her team with incoming first years Nancy Worley ’13 and Veranika Li ’13. Both players come to the team with a solid background in UTSA competition. “I’m really looking forward to getting to know the first years this fall and gaining a greater sense of their tennis games. From what I know of these two players, they have the skills, the work ethic, and the commitment to team play that will certainly help them contribute to our squad.”
Swain’s Ephs will need to work hard and be focused this year. Their fall season gives them just 7 practice days before their first competition, the ITA Regional tournament which acts as an individual national qualifier. They will follow up this tournament with four straight home matches against regional opponents Vassar and Wellesley as well as conference foes Wesleyan and Amherst. Their fall season culminates with the annual NEWITT tournament, which follows a teams of two format where each team of two plays doubles together then splits off to play the same opponents in singles. “Our fall season is compact and gets going right away. It will give us a chance to see where everyone is at in singles play, work on new doubles pairings, and hone in on what we can improve upon between now and spring.” With both Hancock at #3 doubles and #6 singles and Gibson at #1 doubles and #2 singles graduating, this season is sure to test out some new doubles partnerships as well as reconfigure the singles line up.
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| Taylor French '12 |
“I really look at the fall as a time for us to find our footing as a team. We will also try to look at the big picture even as we prepare for each individual match or tournament. If we can start to work on some long-term goals in the months ahead, then that is going to put us in a good position for the rest of the year and going into spring.”
Swain knows just how important it is for her team to have their sights set on long-term goals. She has put together one of their toughest spring schedules to date. Over the course of their two week spring trip, they will play the #3-#8 nationally ranked teams at the end of the 2009 season as well as Division I James Madison University. Upon their return, they will compete in their conference matches. NESCAC is arguably the toughest DIII women’s tennis conference in the country boasting five teams ranked in the top 20 nationally.
“We only get better by setting our sights high and continuing to be pushed to be our best competitively,” comments Swain on her notably tough scheduling. “These girls bring out the best in each other, they know how to support one another and rise to any challenge that faces them together. They have made me so proud and achieved things that have even surprised me. When they play as a team, they play fearless tennis and that is something amazing to be a part of. I simply cannot wait to get back on the tennis court with all of them and help them work towards their dreams for this year.”
