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Women’s Tennis Aims to Repeat Magical ‘08-’09 Season
September 10, 2009
Junior Megan McGowan, the reigning NEAC Player of the Year, returns to lead the Storm.
A year after winning the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) regular season title, the Keuka women’s tennis program responded by earning the program’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09. Keuka posted a 4-1 NEAC Record and a 6-6 overall mark last season.
Coach Matt Tantalo’s squad fell to Hope College, 6-0, in the Big Dance after earning the NEAC automatic qualifier in the NEAC Tournament. With the return of its top two players, Keuka looks poised to repeat both feats in 2009-10.
“We made great strides this past spring with our first NCAA tournament appearance,
and will look to take another positive step in 2009-10,” said Tantalo.
Junior Megan McGowan (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia) will return to the No. 1 singles spot after being named the NEAC Player of the Year last season. McGowan was also a first team All-NEAC pick in singles and doubles after going 8-4 in both. McGowan lost only one singles and one doubles match all season in conference play.
McGowan’s doubles partner, senior Alison Liberty (South Berwick, ME/Marshwood), is back in the No. 2 singles spot where she was a second team All-NEAC selection last season after going 9-2. Her nine wins were tops on the team.
Fellow senior Jennifer Heinrich (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) returns after posting a 4-5 doubles record and earning a spot on the All-NEAC first team. Heinrich sported a 3-8 singles mark.
The Storm’s only other returner is sophomore Helen Helmer (Whitesboro, N.Y./Notre Dame) who went 1-0 in her lone doubles match. She will be counted on for a much bigger role this season.
New to the squad this season are Brin Benjamin (Carlise, PA/Carlisle), Kara Dewitt (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Grimes), Heather Kittenplan (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem East), and Brittany Reals (Chittenango, N.Y./Chittenango). All will try and crack the Storm’s top six.
Keuka opens its fall ’09 season with an away match at D’Youville College Monday, Sept. 14. Keuka will play three more non-conference fall matches before beginning its spring season with a home conference match against the defending NEAC regular season champions, Penn State-Harrisburg, March 27. The NEAC Tournament will be held at the Birchwood Tennis Club in Clarks Summit, Pa.
