Women’s Tennis Team Prepares For Conference Championship

NEW PALTZ – — The SUNY New Paltz women’s tennis team will carry a 13-3 record into the 2002 SUNYAC Championship this weekend (Oct.11-13) at the Eastside Racquet Club in Manlius, NY.

Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Rob Bruley, the Hawks established a single-season record for wins this fall, breaking the mark set by last year’s squad who went 12-5.

SUNY New Paltz began the year by finishing first among a field of five at the RPI Invitational on Sept. 1. Following a 5-4 loss to conference rival Oneonta on Sept. 5, the Hawks reeled off 12 consecutive wins before having their streak stopped by Vassar on Oct. 2. SUNY New Paltz broke the school’s single-season record for wins in a 7-2 triumph over Stevens Institute of Technology on Oct. 5.

“It’s been an outstanding year for our team,” said Bruley, whose team will look to improve upon its sixth place finish at last year’s event. “We’re looking forward to competing for the conference championship against some outstanding programs.”

SUNY New Paltz won six of its seven conference matches this fall, including a convincing 8-1 road victory against defending league champion Geneseo on Sept. 13.

This season, the Hawks singles lineup has won 76 of their 90 matches. Leading the way is sophomore Kerry Farrell (Levittown, NY – South Shore HS) who has registered a 12-4 record from the number one position in the lineup. Farrell advanced to the finals of the first flight as the number one seed at last year’s conference championship before falling 5-7, 3-6 to Gina Tallarini of Geneseo.

Senior Becky Sparacin (Goshen, NY – Goshen Central) is 14-1 overall with 13 of her wins coming at number two singles. Sparacin captured her first 12 matches of the year before dropping a hard-fought three-set match (6-3, 4-6, 2-6) to Diya Uberoi of Vassar.

Senior captain Megan Crevoiserat (Levittown, NY – Division Avenue) is 7-7 from the third singles position.

Senior Jennifer Neumann (Port Jervis, NY – Minisink Valley) has gone 12-1 from the fourth position. Neumann won her first 10 matches before suffering 3-6, 0-6 loss to Jessica Shofler of Vassar.

Sophomore Amie Larson (Port Jervis, NY – Port Jervis HS) is 13-1 at number five singles. Larson, who has won 39 of her 42 matches in two years at New Paltz, was the runner-up in the sixth singles flight at last year’s conference championship. She was seeded first but fell 5-7, 4-6 to Julie Slattery of Plattsburgh in the finals.

Sophomore Gina Ciccarelli (New Paltz, NY – Kingston HS) has been strong at number six singles with a 10-3 mark.

In doubles, the Hawks have won 34 of their 48 matches. Farrell and Sparacin have gone an impressive 14-2 from the number one position.

Crevoiserat has teamed with several players to help the Hawks earn an 8-8 record at number two doubles.

The number three doubles team of freshman Diana Lemanski (Babylon, NY – Babylon) and sophomore Jessica Smith (Newport News, VA – Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) will take an 11-4 record into this year’s championship.