Women's Tennis

Hawks Selected to Finish 7th in E8

ROCHESTER, NY - The conference coaches picked the Hartwick women's tennis team to finish 7th in the nine-team standings this season as the 2009 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Poll was released earlier this week. The Hawks received 27 points, just one point shy of sixth-place Alfred.

Ithaca, which is looking for its fifth consecutive title, was picked to finish on top once again. The Bombers received 64 points, followed by RIT (56 points) in second, and Nazareth (46) in third to round out the top three. Stevens garnered 45 points in fourth and St. John Fisher was fifth with 34 points.

Last season, the Hawks ended the fall with a 3-10 overall record and a 2-6 mark in the Empire 8 with victories over Elmira and Utica. With four of six starters returning from last season, the Hawks look poised to improve their win total in 2009. Head coach Andy Pontius has the luxury of veteran players Betsy Breaznell (1st singles) and Jen Lin (2nd singles) for yet another season at the top two singles flights, as well as, juniors Kim Post and Carly Jesset.

Breaznell garnered Empire 8 recognition for the third consecutive year earning first team accolades in 2006, second team honors in 2007, and honorable mention last season. She looks to end her successful career on a high note following 27 singles wins in her first three years with the Hawks.

Lin enters her third year with 'Wick and has won 13 singles and 13 doubles matches in her first two tours with the Hawks. She earned E8 honors in singles in 2007 and then again last year in doubles with Anne Neely, as the duo combined for an overall record of 6-3 and a conference mark of 5-1.

Post, competing in the fourth and fifth singles slots last year, was the lone Hartwick player to crack the 10-win mark. The junior has accumulated 18 wins entering the 2009 season.

Jesset also returns after an 8-8 singles showing as a newcomer to the program.

Five other returners and two new additions to the program will compete for the remaining spots in Pontius' starting lineup this fall. The Hawks' season begins at the RPI Invitational on Sept. 5th-6th. The team's first dual match takes place Sept. 8th at home against Utica at 4 p.m.

2009 Empire 8 Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Ithaca College - 64 points
2. Rochester Institute of Technology - 56
3. Nazareth College - 46
4. Stevens Institute of Technology - 45
5. St. John Fisher College - 34
6. Alfred University - 28
7. Hartwick College - 27
8. Elmira College - 15
9. Utica College - 9