2012 Women's Tennis Season Preview
AURORA, N.Y. – The Wells College women's tennis team enters action this season coming off one of the most successful years in program history, having posted an 8-5 overall record in 2011-12 and featuring an unblemished conference record (6-0) during the regular season. This year, the Express will debut a new Head Coach during their fall calendar of matches.
Dan Sullivan, a recent graduate of Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. and the Head Tennis Professional at Skaneateles Country Club in Skaneateles, N.Y., is inheriting a program that received their lone conference loss in the postseason, falling by a 5-4 margin to the Nittany Lions of Penn State Berks in the NEAC West championship match.
Senior Caitlyn Copfer (Clinton, N.Y.), a four year member of the tennis program, enters this season as the team's lone captain, assuming a leadership role with what is predominantly a young team. The only two-sport fall semester athlete at Wells College, Copfer is also a member of the women's volleyball team. On the volleyball court, she is one of three Express players to accumulate a positive hitting percentage. On the tennis court, Copfer holds an overall singles record of 19-19 entering the next match, bringing veteran leadership to the roster.
Fellow senior Kelly Pietruch (Whitesboro, N.Y.) also brings experience to the court, posting a 5-3 record in doubles action last spring playing at No. 3 doubles. Emma Martin (Concord, N.H.) rejoins the team this semester, having first joined the team during the 2011 season. A native of the Granite State, Martin will look to collect her first singles victory this season.
Junior Brittany Vanno (Whitesboro, N.Y.) is a former classmate of Pietruch at Whitesboro High School. A multi-sport athlete in high school, Vanno posted a 4-4 singles record this past spring to boost her overall singles career record to 9-7. At No. 2 doubles, Vanno posted a 4-3 record last season and will look to contribute this year as an upperclassman.
Two freshmen join the squad, including Britney DeSouza (Bronx, N.Y.) and Kailin Kucewicz (West Valley, N.Y.). DeSouza, a 2012 graduate of Lenman High School, played tennis for the Lions. Kucewicz, who graduated from Maryvale High School in 2012 with honors, played tennis for the Pegasus under Head Coach Eric Keller. She was also selected as the Most Improved Player during her high school career, also earning Scholar-Athlete distinction.
Sophomore Starr Alexis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) is studying abroad during the fall calendar of contests and will rejoin the squad in time for the spring schedule.
The Express return to action Thursday, Sept. 13 as they host the Soaring Eagles of Elmira College in a 4:00 p.m. match on the Wells College tennis courts. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).
