2009 SEASON IN REVIEW
Nov. 4, 2009
The Emmanuel Women's Tennis Team posted another fine season, which took the Saints into the semifinal round of the 2009 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament. After winning ten of the program's 14 matches during the regular season, the Saints upset Johnson & Wales University in the opening round of the post-season tournament. Emmanuel then suffered a tough loss to top-ranked Simmons College in the GNAC semifinals. The young squad, which will graduate just one player in May, wrapped up the season with an overall record of 11-5 and a 5-3 mark in conference play.
Head Coach Rob Miller, who is now in his 10th season at the helm, brought in a strong recruiting class for the '09 season. Two of Miller's incoming freshmen earned spots in the Saints' top six individual positions. Among them was rookie sensation Taylor Dey (Woodbridge, Conn.), who nabbed the first singles slot for the Saints. Dey finished her stellar freshman year with an overall record of 12-2 and was named 1st-Team All-GNAC. Joining Dey in the Emmanuel top six was fellow-rookie, Jenna Reid (Lincoln, R.I.). Reid also received All-GNAC honors after posting a 10-4 record from her fourth singles position.
In all, Emmanuel placed four standout players on the highly competitive all-conference team. Along with Dey and Reid, Nory Hayes (Newport, R.I.) and Megan Harrington (Leicester, Mass.) received well-deserved all-conference recognition for their play in 2009. Hayes, who has been a four-year standout for the Saints, wrapped up her senior year with a 2nd singles record of 10-4. Harrington also went 10-4 in singles action and posted a tremendous doubles record of 12-3, while competing with five different partners this year.
Also returning for their senior seasons next fall are 2009 co-captain Catherine Dunphy (Duxbury, Mass.), Alexandra Shakra (Bedford, N.H.), Brianna Murphy (Wilbraham, Mass.) and Taylor Kelly (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.). Shakra and Dunphy went 5-6 and 6-4 at 5th and 6th singles, respectively, while Murphy and Kelly teamed up for a 7-6 doubles march.
With just Hayes graduating in May, Coach Miller will return a strong group of twelve veterans, including five seniors, for the 2010 campaign. The Saints will be looking to win the program's 3rd GNAC Championship next fall.