2009 Season in Review

The Elmira College Women’s Tennis team wraps-up their season with a 3-9 overall record with a 1-7 Empire 8 Conference record. With a very young team, EC learned a lot this year and a great amount of progress was made. As the season progressed, the level of play was upped for sure.

EC Women’s Tennis was led this year by the doubles team of second year starters Briana Palmiero ’12 (Rochester, NY -- Bishop Kearney) and Alex Puteny (Dundee, NY --Hammondsport). The duo won 4 of their last 6 doubles matches, picking up wins against Nazareth College, University of Pitt-Bradford, SUNY Oswego, and RIT. This gave them an overall record of 5-7 at the second spot.

Palmiero continued her impressive play as she picked up four singles wins on the season as well. She led the team in overall wins with 9. Playing at the highly competitive No.2 singles position, Putney picked up two wins on the year. She lost several close matches with two of those tough losses going into three sets. Her level of play has without a doubt been raised as a result of playing at such a high spot.

Third year player Alia Pyros ’10 (Shavertown, PA -- Dallas Senior) had an impressive final season for the Purple and Gold. She picked up 4 wins for the Soaring Eagles at the No. 3 position with wins against Utica College, University of Pitt-Bradford, SUNY Brockport, and SUNY Oswego. Pyros finished the season by winning 3 of her last 4 singles matches. She was also Elmira College’s representative for Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year.

Playing the No. 1 position for the Soaring Eagles this year was third year starter Rebecca Kingman ’11 (Hamilton, NJ -- Steinert). She earned two wins at the top spot against Utica College and University of Pitt-Bradford. Kingman teamed up with Pyros to tally up three doubles wins at No. 1 doubles.

Fourth year player Desiree Calderella ’10 (Pittsfield, MA -- Taconic) picked up two wins on the season against the University of Pitt-Bradford and SUNY Brockport. Her three set win against SUNY Brockport helped clinch Elmira’s third and final win of the season.

Newcomer Elyse Colby ’12 (Owego, NY -- Coronado) owns a 3-3 fifth singles record on the year. She picked up a huge win for EC as she won the deciding match against SUNY Brockport in a third set super tie-breaker; this win gave Elmira the win 5-4.

Second year players Brittany LaFountain ’12 (Scotia, NY -- Scotia-Glenville), Katherine Stebbins ’12 (Scotia, NY -- Scotia-Glenville), and Sabrina Zinter ’11 (Cordova, MD -- St. Michaels) played in several matches as well as several exhibition matches this year. Their experience and overall positive attitudes were a great contribution to this year’s team.

Newcomers Krista Dining ’12 (Clinton, NY -- Clinton), Clare Lowery ’13 (Syracuse, NY -- West Genesee), Melanie Walker ’13 (Scranton, PA – Scranton) all saw valuable time in this year’s lineup. They will all be looked upon next year for the experience.

Amanda Hart-Hempstead ’13 (Topsham, ME -- Arart) and Tiffany Hunsinger ’13 (Monroeton, PA -- Towanda) saw time in exhibition matches and made great progress in their tennis games.

With the majority of their lineup returning for next season, the Soaring Eagles Women’s Tennis team will look to build on the progress they made this season. Elmira will lose Calderella and Pyros to graduation. Their leadership will be greatly missed next season.