NJAC NEWS ARCHIVE

 2007-08

August 29, 2007


TCNJ SELECTED AS WOMEN'S TENNIS FAVORITE
IN POLL OF LEAGUE'S HEAD COACHES


LIONS SEEKING THEIR 25TH CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE CROWN


The College of New Jersey has been selected as the favorite to win the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s six head coaches. The 2006 NJAC Champion Lions will be seeking their 25th straight conference crown since the inception of women's tennis as a league sport in 1982. With a perfect 5-0 conference record in 2006, TCNJ extended its NJAC winning streak to 116 consecutive league matches, a streak that spans the entire history of conference play.

The Lions received all six of the first-place votes cast by the coaches. Under the direction of 2006 NJAC Coach of the Year Scott Dicheck, TCNJ has posted a record of 34-0 in NJAC conference play. Now in his eighth season at the helm of the Lions program, Dicheck has guided TCNJ to an overall record of 86-14 during his tenure.

TCNJ returns four all-conference players from its 2006 NJAC championship squad including the 2006 NJAC Player and Rookie of the Year in sophomore Jackie Shtemberg. In addition, the Lions return a trio of all-league performers in senior Christina Contrafatto, junior Haley Kutner, and sophomore Stephanie Haar. 

Richard Stockton College, which produced a 9-1 overall record in 2006, was selected to place second. Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Phil Birnbaum, the Ospreys have posted an overall record of 47-12. Stockton returns one all-conference player from its 2006 squad in junior Christa Phillips.

Ramapo College, the coaches' dark horse selection, was picked to place third. Second-year head coach Nanine Gallo led the Roadrunners to an 8-6 overall record during her rookie season of 2006. 

Rutgers University-Newark, led by fifth-year head coach Kevin Morris, was selected to place fourth. Morris has guided the Scarlet Raiders to a 26-24 overall record, including a mark of 10-6 in 2006.

William Paterson University, under the direction of new first-year head coach Mary Lou Rios, was selected to place fifth. The Pioneers notched a 1-9 overall record in 2006.

Kean University, under the leadership of fourth-year head coach Evelyn Alfaro, was tapped to place sixth. The Cougars posted a 4-7 overall mark in 2006.

The 25th season of NJAC women's tennis will get under way on Friday, August 31 when Richard Stockton hosts FDU-Florham in a non-conference match. Conference play will begin on Saturday, September 8 when Kean hosts Rutgers-Newark in the first league match of the season. The NJAC does not sponsor a conference tournament in women's tennis, meaning the league championship is awarded to the team with the best record in conference play.  


2007 NJAC Women's Tennis
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. TCNJ (6)
2. Richard Stockton
3. Ramapo (dark horse)
4. Rutgers-Newark
5. William Paterson
6. Kean
   
First Place Votes In Parentheses