Martel Headlines Five All-CCC Winners; Howard Named Coach of the Year

2013 All-CCC Women's Tennis Teams

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Led by CCC Player of the Year, junior captain Chrissy Martel (Westbrook, Conn.), and CCC Coach of the Year Jeremy Howard, the Endicott women's tennis team saw five of their six starters earn a spot on the 2013 All-CCC Team as it was announced today by league commissioner Gregg M. Kaye.

The 2013 All-CCC Women's Tennis Teams are voted upon by the head coaches of the nine member institutions in the conference and include singles, doubles, and major award winners based off overall statistics from the fall season. 

Martel, one of three junior captains, has been a key contributor at the # 1 position for both singles and doubles for the Gulls this season.  After playing the majority of 2012 at the #2 singles position, Martel was thrust into the top singles position this season and responded with marquee victories over Gordon's Caroline Hall in three sets and a gritty three-set triumph over Tufts senior Shelci Bowman at the ITA Regional Championships.  Martel will enter the 2013 CCC Championship Tournament with a 7-2 overall record from the first position in the team's lineup, which includes a 5-1 record in conference action this fall.  Martel will be paired up with teammate Natalie Egbert (Gorham, Maine) at #1 doubles in the tournament after the duo posted an overall record of 7-4, including a 5-2 conference record.  Martel and Egbert were also recognized as All-CCC First Team Doubles honorees along with the top duos from Nichols and Gordon.  They are 7-4 (5-2 CCC) in doubles play heading into the CCC Tournament.

Howard, in only his second season at the helm of both Gulls tennis programs, has directed the Endicott women to a 9-3 overall record, including a 7-1 mark in conference play and the #2 seed in the upcoming CCC Championship Tournament. After being forced to juggle his lineup with the early retirement of one of his All-CCC First Team Singles and Second Team Doubles players from 2012, Howard's team has certainly made their mark in the conference. The Gulls will be competing for their third straight CCC championship as they have won each of their last two titles as the #2 seed with back-to-back wins on the road at the tournament's top seed, Nichols.  In 2012, he guided the women's squad to their first ever NCAA Division III Tournament victory as the Gulls defeated Bridgewater State 5-0 to advance into the Second Round.

Joining Martel on the All-CCC First Team Singles list is fellow captain Amy Heacox (Marion, Mass.) who put up a 9-2 (7-1 CCC) record at the #2 singles flight this fall.  Heacox' loss in the second match of the season to Wellesley ended a streak of 21-straight singles wins dating back to the 2012 NCAA Tournament First Round.  Heacox went undefeated in singles action in 2012-13 until tournament time. 

Egbert, along with her doubles award with Martel, was named the All-CCC Second Team Singles squad for her efforts at the #3 position.  Egbert, a junior co-captain, went 9-3 overall and 7-1 in conference matches this fall. 

Endicott's final All-CCC Singles honoree is sophomore Suzie Newman (Dighton, Mass.) whose unbeaten record against CCC opponents earned her a spot on the Honorable Mention team.  A consistent presence at the #4 singles position, Newman went 10-2 overall and 8-0 against the league to earn her first career All-CCC nod. 

The #2 doubles duo of Heacox and freshman Mackenzie Rhodes (Rye, N.H.) received All-CCC Second Team accolades for their efforts this fall in going 8-3 (7-1 CCC). 

Endicott takes their 9-3 overall record and 7-1 standing in the CCC into the conference tournament this week.  The Gulls have earned a bye through the quarterfinal round with the #2 seed and will await the winner of #3 Roger Williams versus #6 Salve Regina which is being played on Tuesday, October 8^th at 4:00 pm.