2010 Women's Tennis Season Preview

The Soaring Eagles Women’s Tennis team will look to bounce back after a 3-9 season during the 2009 campaign.  EC picked up wins over SUNY Brockport, Pitt-Bradford, and conference foe Utica College.

Head Coach Philip Levkanich enters his 36th year with the Soaring Eagles Women’s Tennis Team. Levkanich will surely be counting on the experience that last year’s players gained in order to see success this year. 

EC returns two fourth year players to the 2010 squad, Rebecca Kingman ’11 (Hamilton, NJ -- Steinert) and Sabrina Zinter ’11 (Cordova, MD -- St. Michaels). Kingman earned 5 wins while playing at the very competitive number one singles and doubles positions last season. Look for Kingman to return to her Empire 8 Honorable Mention form as she plays in her final season as a Soaring Eagle. Zinter played primarily exhibition matches last season and will look to compete for a starting position. 

Third year player Briana Palmiero ’12 (Rochester, NY -- Bishop Kearney) returns looking to have another successful season with the Purple and Gold. Palmiero finished last season with a team high 9 wins. The Rochester native elevated her game as the season progressed and will surely look to contend for a top spot in this year’s lineup. Teaming up with Palmiero at second doubles is fellow classmate Alexandra Putney ’12 (Dundee, NY -- Hammondsport). Putney’s level of play has made leaps and bounds since her arrival to Elmira College. She has worked her way from 6th singles to the number 2 position. Look for Putney to be very competitive at the top of this year’s lineup. 

Second year players  Elyse Colby ’13 (Owego, NY -- Coronado), Clare Lowery ’13 (Syracuse, NY -- West Genesee), and Melanie Walker ’13 (Scranton, PA -- Scranton) will be counted on to build on the experience they obtained last season. Despite having her season cut short by injury, Colby showed that she can play with anyone in the Empire 8 Conference. Colby went 3-3 last season earning wins over Hartwick College, Pitt-Bradford, and SUNY Brockport. EC will surely count on her to provide the depth that they have lacked in previous years.

Lowery and Walker saw valuable time in last year’s lineup. Lowery appeared in 2 singles matches at the 6th spot earning a straight set win over conference rival Alfred University as well as earning a third doubles victory over Pitt-Bradford. Walker appeared in a pair of doubles matches and also saw time at exhibition singles. Both players will most definitely make an impact this season for the Soaring Eagles.

Amanda Hart-Hempsted ’13 (Topsham, ME -- Mount Ararat) played in several exhibition matches and has made vast improvements in her game. She will also be fighting to earn a position in the starting lineup.

Talented newcomers Tiffany Goonetilleke ’14 (West Mifflin, PA -- West Mifflin), Maria Morales ’14 (Cairo, NY -- Cairo-Durham), Emily Marois ’14 (Brooklyn, CT -- Woodstock Academy), and  Micah Moskoff ’14 (Somerset, MA -- Somerset) will all look to compete for a starting gig with the Soaring Eagles.

With a good balance of experience and youth, this year’s Soaring Eagles Women’s Tennis team will surely make waves in the highly competitive Empire 8 Conference. EC will kick-off the 2010 season as they hit the road to take on the Hawks of Hartwick College on Tuesday September 7th at 4:00 p.m. at the Hartwick College Tennis Courts.