Women's Tennis | 9/18/2017 3:05:00 PM
GAME INFORMATION
Daemen Wildcats (3-2, 1-1 ECC) vs. Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks (3-1, 1-1 ECC)
Tuesday, Sept. 19 | 4 p.m. | Rochester,N.Y. | RWC Tennis Courts
BEATTY'S BACK
Stephen Beatty returns for his fifth season as the head coach of the Wildcats...over the course of his first four seasons, Beatty has guided the Daemen women's tennis team to a 33-61 record...a former collegiate player at Division II Northwood University (Mich.) and Division III D'Youville College, Beatty got his coaching start as an assistant to Kelly Brown, serving for one season--Daemen's inaugural season of tennis competition--before being promoted to the top post.
WILDCATS PICKED 7TH IN ECC PRESEASON POLL
Following a vote of the league's head coaches, Daemen has been picked to finish seventh in the East Coast Conference this season.
RETURNING WILDCATS
The Wildcats are coming off a 9-15 campaign in 2016-17 (1-6 in ECC play), setting the team record for most wins in a season. They will enter the season without the services of Hayle Scanlan and Karli Hollins, two of the most decorated players in team history who were lost to graduation. Veterans Gretchen Ringler (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) and Jessica Robins (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) return to lead the team this season. The duo has combined to make 124 starts in singles play and 100 starts in doubles play in their careers. Ringler posted an 8-16 record at No. 3 singles last year and enters the season ranked second in career singles wins (30) among the program's all-time leaders. Robbins went 11-13 at No. 4 singles. Junior Morgan Park (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) also returns after going 4-5 at No. 6 singles as a sophomore.
FRESH FACES
Daemen welcomes three true freshmen to the 2017-18 squad, including local product Christina Stasiuk (Bowmansville, N.Y./Lancaster). Stasiuk was a four-year member of the Lancaster girl's varsity tennis team. A two-time team captain and two-time team MVP, she played No. 1 singles and qualified for the Section VI championships her junior and senior year. Fellow freshmen Giovanna Paschoalin (Sao Caetano Do Sui, Brazil) and Lorissa Yuen (Portland, Ore./Sunset) are also expected to see significant playing time.
FAST START
Daemen is off to a 3-2 start to the season with all five of their dual-matches coming on the road. The Wildcats scored wins over St. Michael's (6-3) and American International (7-2) to secure the program's first ever 2-0 start to a season. Back-to-back losses Bentley (7-2) and Queens (9-0) followed, but the team regrouped with an 8-1 league win at Molloy.
TOURNEY RECAP
Daemen took a brief hiatus from dual-match play to host the Daemen Invitational Tournament this past weekend. Giovanna Paschoalin, Gretchen Ringler, Christina Stasiuk, Jessica Robins and Morgan Park all earned quarterfinal round victories in their respective singles draws, but advanced no farther.
CONFERENCE ACCOLADES
Freshman Lorissa Yuen was named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week for matches held August 28 through September 3. Yuen led the Wildcats to wins over St. Michael's and American International during the week, posting a perfect 2-0 record in both singles and doubles play in the two matches. She became the first Daemen player to earn ECC Rookie of the Week honors since Brianna Fiorita did so in the opening week of the 2013-14 season.
ROBERTS WESLEYAN SCOUTING REPORT
Roberts Wesleyan returns four players from its 2016-17 squad which went 12-11 overall and 3-4 in ECC play, finishing one win shy of conference tournament contention. The Redhawks are led by head coach Rebecca Bonner, now in her seventh season at the helm. Since taking the reins of the program, Bonner has led the Redhawks to a 73-69 record. Returners this season include Marousia Bosch, Salome Darsalia, Marine Kennel and Nthabi Mogopodi. Bosch, Darsalia and Mogopodi all advanced into the semifinal round of their respective singles draws at last weekend's Daemen Invitational Tournament, as did newcomers Laura Freeman and Andrea Gallardo. Gallardo posted a 15-15 singles record and a 14-10 doubles record in two seasons at Northwest Missouri State. The Redhawks own non-league wins over Brockport (9-0) and St. Rose (8-0) and a 9-0 shutout win in league play over Molloy. The Redhawks were picked fifth in the ECC preseason poll.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. Roberts Wesleyan: 0-6
Streak: Lost 6
Last Meeting: Roberts Wesleyan 6, Daemen 3 | Sept. 21, 2016 | Amherst, N.Y.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats return to tournament action at the ITA East Regional Tournament held Sept. 22-25 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.
