Women's tennis voted fourth in 2011 CCC Preseason Poll
August 25, 2011
2011 CCC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Endicott women's tennis team will enter their 2011 season fourth on the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Preseason Poll as it was voted upon by the league's head coaches. The announcement was made on Thursday evening by CCC Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye.
Endicott (55) finished behind Salve Regina (64), Roger Williams (71) and defending conference champions Nichols (77). Nichols received seven of the nine possible first place votes. Rounding out the rest of the rankings are Western New England (43), Curry (36), Gordon (26), Wentworth (23), and Eastern Nazarene (10).
2010 marked the third season in-a-row that Kate Cioffi earned an All-CCC nod as the Vermont native was named to the First Team Singles squad after posting an 11-2 record at number one singles. Against league opponents, Cioffi went 9-2 with the third best win percentage in the conference and even had a stretch of eight straight wins in singles play. Her All-CCC First Team Singles award was the second of her collegiate career.
In number one doubles play, Cioffi teamed up with Emily Annis in the final eight matches of the season and recorded a 5-3 record overall with all five wins coming against CCC opponents. The conference recognized the duo as Honorable Mention Doubles players, marking the first time Annis earned an All-CCC award in her career. Annis matched her strong doubles play with a 4-4 record at number two singles in league matches.
This year’s women’s tennis team will also welcome back Laura MacLeod who showed versatility by playing at the number two, three, and four singles positions throughout the 2010 season. MacLeod was especially effective at the three-spot, garnering wins over her Wentworth and Curry opponents in crucial Endicott victories. In doubles competition, she again showed her versatility by going 3-3 with Cioffi at number one doubles early in the season while going a stunning 5-1 at number three doubles with former teammate Kerri Dunn later in the year.
Sophomore Melanie Weinick dominated at the number five singles position last fall with a 5-1 mark and is expected to continue that success in 2011. Junior Gina Pinciaro, who went 3-1 at number six singles and 4-2 at number three doubles with rising senior Kristen DiFillippo, returns for the Gulls as well. Endicott also anticipates that DiFillippo and juniors Rachel Fenstermaker and Ashley Sullivan will also be impact players on the court this fall. Fenstermaker was a perfect 4-0 overall last season with two singles wins apiece in both the number five and six slots. Sullivan, 6-4 overall in singles play last year, also provided strength in the five and six singles positions with 2-0 and 4-1 records, respectively.
Coach MacKay has brought in two notable freshmen in Amy Heacox and Natalie Egbert that she expects will make an impact on Endicott’s success in 2011. Heacox comes from Old Rochester Region in Marion where she reached the final eight as the two seed of the South Section individual tournament in her senior season. Three times she was named The Standard-Times Player of the Year and over her four years at Old Rochester her varsity tennis team compiled 86 straight wins, including 62 straight South Coast Conference (SCC) wins and eight consecutive SCC championships. Egbert, out of Gorham High in Maine, led her high school squad to a 14-2 record and the Western Class A Title in her senior season. Individually, Egbert reached the round of 16 as the six seed in the singles tournament.
On September 1st, the Blue and Green open up their 2011 season at home against a familiar rival in Colby-Sawyer who defeated Endicott in the CCC Quarterfinals last year, but who are now members of the North Atlantic Conference. Endicott’s conference schedule commences two days later on September 3rd at home against conference semifinalist Salve Regina. The Gulls anticipate their September 17th road match against NCAA Division II opponents Saint Michael’s College in Vermont will provide stiff non-conference competition. Following their October 8th road league match against 2010 CCC Champions Nichols, Endicott hopes to be serious contenders for the 2011 crown as the conference tournament will be played from October 11th-22nd.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Endicott women's tennis team will enter their 2011 season fourth on the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Preseason Poll as it was voted upon by the league's head coaches. The announcement was made on Thursday evening by CCC Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye.
Endicott (55) finished behind Salve Regina (64), Roger Williams (71) and defending conference champions Nichols (77). Nichols received seven of the nine possible first place votes. Rounding out the rest of the rankings are Western New England (43), Curry (36), Gordon (26), Wentworth (23), and Eastern Nazarene (10).
Endicott women’s tennis enters the 2011 fall season with eight returners, including their top three singles players, and second year head coach Lauren MacKay has the team’s sights set on Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championship glory.
Kate Cioffi, Emily Annis, and Laura MacLeod all return for their senior seasons for the Gulls and have each been named captains for their leadership on-and-off the court for the Blue and Green. The Gulls will look to the senior trio this fall as the team anticipates a deep run towards their second conference championship in program history. Their only title came in 2008 after an 18-3 season with a 9-1 mark in conference play.
2010 marked the third season in-a-row that Kate Cioffi earned an All-CCC nod as the Vermont native was named to the First Team Singles squad after posting an 11-2 record at number one singles. Against league opponents, Cioffi went 9-2 with the third best win percentage in the conference and even had a stretch of eight straight wins in singles play. Her All-CCC First Team Singles award was the second of her collegiate career.
In number one doubles play, Cioffi teamed up with Emily Annis in the final eight matches of the season and recorded a 5-3 record overall with all five wins coming against CCC opponents. The conference recognized the duo as Honorable Mention Doubles players, marking the first time Annis earned an All-CCC award in her career. Annis matched her strong doubles play with a 4-4 record at number two singles in league matches.
This year’s women’s tennis team will also welcome back Laura MacLeod who showed versatility by playing at the number two, three, and four singles positions throughout the 2010 season. MacLeod was especially effective at the three-spot, garnering wins over her Wentworth and Curry opponents in crucial Endicott victories. In doubles competition, she again showed her versatility by going 3-3 with Cioffi at number one doubles early in the season while going a stunning 5-1 at number three doubles with former teammate Kerri Dunn later in the year.
Sophomore Melanie Weinick dominated at the number five singles position last fall with a 5-1 mark and is expected to continue that success in 2011. Junior Gina Pinciaro, who went 3-1 at number six singles and 4-2 at number three doubles with rising senior Kristen DiFillippo, returns for the Gulls as well. Endicott also anticipates that DiFillippo and juniors Rachel Fenstermaker and Ashley Sullivan will also be impact players on the court this fall. Fenstermaker was a perfect 4-0 overall last season with two singles wins apiece in both the number five and six slots. Sullivan, 6-4 overall in singles play last year, also provided strength in the five and six singles positions with 2-0 and 4-1 records, respectively.
Coach MacKay has brought in two notable freshmen in Amy Heacox and Natalie Egbert that she expects will make an impact on Endicott’s success in 2011. Heacox comes from Old Rochester Region in Marion where she reached the final eight as the two seed of the South Section individual tournament in her senior season. Three times she was named The Standard-Times Player of the Year and over her four years at Old Rochester her varsity tennis team compiled 86 straight wins, including 62 straight South Coast Conference (SCC) wins and eight consecutive SCC championships. Egbert, out of Gorham High in Maine, led her high school squad to a 14-2 record and the Western Class A Title in her senior season. Individually, Egbert reached the round of 16 as the six seed in the singles tournament.
On September 1st, the Blue and Green open up their 2011 season at home against a familiar rival in Colby-Sawyer who defeated Endicott in the CCC Quarterfinals last year, but who are now members of the North Atlantic Conference. Endicott’s conference schedule commences two days later on September 3rd at home against conference semifinalist Salve Regina. The Gulls anticipate their September 17th road match against NCAA Division II opponents Saint Michael’s College in Vermont will provide stiff non-conference competition. Following their October 8th road league match against 2010 CCC Champions Nichols, Endicott hopes to be serious contenders for the 2011 crown as the conference tournament will be played from October 11th-22nd.
2011 CCC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
| Institution | Point Total |
| Nichols | 77 (7) |
| Roger Williams | 71 (1) |
| Salve Regina | 64 (1) |
| Endicott | 55 |
| Western New England | 43 |
| Curry | 36 |
| Gordon | 26 |
| Wentworth | 23 |
| Eastern Nazarene | 10 |