Yearly awards announced for women's tennis

CORTLAND, N.Y.- The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) is excited to announce the winners for Women's Tennis Coach, Athlete, and Rookie of the Year, as well as All-Conference Teams. These awards were nominated and voted on by tennis coaches within the conference.  

Peter J. Cahill Most Valuable Player- Carol Tyson, New Paltz

Tyson, a graduate student from Clinton Corners, closed out an incredible run in SUNYAC competition with the conference's Peter J. Cahill Most Valuable Player award. Tyson had a strong regular-season for the Hawks, playing both number two singles and number one doubles alongside Brittany Grandville. In the SUNYAC championship, the MBA student put forth what was perhaps her best play of the season. In the preliminary round against Oswego, Tyson and Grandville won 8-0 in doubles. In singles, she was up 6-0, 5-0 in an unfinished match (tournament played under first to five overall victories format). The semifinals saw more difficult competition, but Tyson was able to overcome. In her next match against Cortland, she was able to outlast the Red Dragons' formidable first doubles team for a 9-7 victory and was close to picking up a singles victory, finishing 6-3, 3-0 before her team won overall. In the final round, facing the defending conference champion Geneseo Knights, Tyson fought valiantly in a 5-3 loss. In the doubles match, Tyson and Grandville fell 8-3 to eventual Doubles Team of the Year Pornpitaksuk and Salzano. In singles play, she battled down to the wire, ultimately losing 7-6, 6-3.  Tyson ends her career as one of the most accomplished players in New Paltz tennis history.

Peter J. Cahill taught and coached at Cortland for 30 years until his retirement in 2002. He passed away on Nov. 17, 2006. In 1998, he became the women's tennis coach at Cortland and promptly won five of next seven SUNYAC Championships while posting an impressive 59-29 record. Cahill was selected SUNYAC Women's Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2005.

Doubles Team of the Year- Anika Pornpitaksuk/Lauren Salzano, Geneseo

For the second year in a row, the tandem of Pornpitaksuk and Salzano are being recognized as tops in the conference. At number one doubles, the pair finished the regular-season with an 8-1 record, the best in the SUNYAC. The two senior standouts have helped carry on Geneseo's winning tradition in tennis and looked to complete an unprecedented seven-peat in this year's championship.  In the opening matchup against Plattsburgh, Pornpitaksuk and Salzano helped the Knights roll to a 5-0 overall victory with an 8-3 win at first singles.  They continued this trend in the semifinal faceoff with Oneonta, winning 8-3 on the way to a 5-2 team victory.  In the finals against New Paltz, the pair picked up an 8-3 victory against a Hawks team that featured MVP Carol Tyson.  This victory proved to be crucial as the Knights held on for a 5-3 victory en route to their seventh consecutive SUNYAC Women's Tennis Championship.  

Rookie of the Year- Jenna Grandville, New Paltz

Grandville, a freshman from Tappan, impressed in her first year of SUNYAC competition.  Playing mostly at number three doubles this year, Grandville and her partner, Lindsay Haley, finished the year 4-0 overall.  Grandville, the younger sister of New Paltz's Brittany Grandville, put on an outstanding performance in the SUNYAC championship.  In the opening round, Grandville was part of a doubles team that defeated Oswego 8-1, helping the Hawks win 5-0.  In the semifinal against Cortland, Grandville and Haley registered a commanding 8-0 victory and helped their team to another 5-0 win.  Grandville stepped up in the championship when the Hawks needed her the most.  Facing Geneseo's third doubles, she was able to pick up a momentous 9-7 victory with her partner Haley.  This win put New Paltz down only 2-1 going into the singles matches.  Although they eventually lost 5-3, Grandville's victory gave the Hawks more vitality against the Knights. She looks to continue her success in the spring, when tennis resumes its season.  

  Coach of the Year- Jason Stephens, Geneseo

Stephens has earned coach of the year in his third season at the helm of Knights' tennis.  So far, his work at the program has been nothing short of successful.  In his first two years, Stephens was able to take over for Jim Chen, Geneseo's previous coach, and lead the Knights to their ninth and tenth overall conference championships.  This season, however, competition in the conference ramped up.  After Geneseo was handed a loss against Oneonta this season, it seemed as though the Knights would have to work a little harder for the championship this season.  In the conference tournament, however, the team proved its prowess by picking up a 5-0 victory in the opening round and avenging its loss to Oneonta with a 5-2 win in the semifinals.  For the second year in a row, Geneseo would face New Paltz for the conference championship.  The Hawks proved to be a formidable foe, but Stephens was able to lead his team to a 5-3 triumph, resulting in Geneseo's seventh consecutive SUNYAC championship.  
 

2017 Women's Tennis All-Conference Teams (PDF)