SUNYAC Announces 2025 Women's Tennis Top Awards
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC releases its 2025 women's tennis annual awards including the Peter J. Cahill Most Valuable Player, Doubles Team of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and All-Conference teams as voted on by the conference coaches.
Peter J. Cahill MVP - Justine Stanejko, New Paltz
Stanejko three-peats as the Peter J. Cahill MVP after finishing her junior season undefeated in conference play and 14-4 overall. She was named to the All-Tournament team for helping her team clinch its third-straight women's tennis conference title. She went 2-0 in the tournament with wins at No. 1 doubles, 6-0, against Plattsburgh in the semifinals and No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-0, against Oswego in the SUNYAC championship match. She was ahead in her two other matches in the tournament that were unfinished. Stanejko and her doubles partner Isabel van der Veen are also being honored as the SUNYAC Doubles Team of the Year. This is the third year in a row that Stanejko has been honored with the doubles award.
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.
Rookie of the Year - Taylor Plue, Oneonta
Plue won seven matches at No. 3 singles in her first year with the Oneonta Red Dragons. In doubles play, she won five matches at No. 2 doubles and had one win at No. 1 doubles. Oneonta won five matches as a team during the 2024-25 season.
Doubles Team of the Year - Justine Stanejko and Isabel van der Veen
The Hawks' first doubles team of Justine Stanejko and Isabel van der Veen are the 2025 SUNYAC Doubles Team of the Year after finishing the 2024-25 season undefeated in conference competition and 16-6 overall. They helped the Hawks earn the No. 1 seed going into postseason play. The duo won their match against Plasttsburgh, 6-0, in the SUNYAC semifinals to help advance the Hawks to the finals. Stanejko and van der Veen did not finish their match against Oswego, but were winning, 4-2, when their teammates completed thier matches at doubles No. 2 and 3 to take the doubles team point. The Hawks defeated the Lakers, 4-0, to capture their third straight SUNYAC women's tennis title. The two will be advancing to the NCAA tournament with their team.
Coach of the Year - Rob Bruley, New Paltz
Bruley earns his sixth straight and 11th overall SUNYAC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year honors in his 27th year as the Hawks head coach. He coached the 2024-25 women's tennis team to an undefeated season in SUNYAC play (5-0) and is currently 12-7 overall. Bruley led is team to their third straight and 10th overall SUNYAC women's tennis title, defeating Oswego 4-0. With the win, New Paltz earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis tournament making this Bruley's and the Hawks' eighth appearance overall. Selections will be announced May 6.
2025 SUNYAC Women's Tennis All-Conference Teams (PDF)
| First Team | |||
| Name, School | Year | Hometown/High School | |
| Justine Stanejko, New Paltz | Jr. | 1st Singles | Lakeland, NY / Solvay |
| Sydney Sladicka, New Paltz | Fr. | 2nd Singles | Marlboro, NY / Morlboro |
| Isabel van der Veen, New Paltz | Sr. | 3rd Singles | Niskayuna, NY / Niskayuna |
| Amirah Alston, New Paltz | Sr. | 4th Singles | New York, NY / Promis Academy 1 |
| Olivia Kunz, New Paltz | So. | 5th Singles | New York City, NY / Fiorello H Laguardia High of Music |
| Angelica Gabriel, New Paltz | Fr. | 6th Singles | Liverpool, NY / Liverpool |
| Name, School | Year | Hometown/High School | |
| Justin Stanejko, New Paltz | Jr. | 1st Doubles | Lakeland, NY / Solvay |
| Isabel van der Veen, New Paltz | Sr. | 1st Doubles | Niskayuna, NY / Niskayuna |
| Sydney Sladicka, New Paltz | Fr. | 2nd Doubles | Marlboro, NY / Morlboro |
| Angelica Gabriel, New Paltz | Fr. | 2nd Doubles | Liverpool, NY / Liverpool |
| Hallie Hurwitz, Plattsburgh | Sr. | 2nd Doubles | Beekmantown, NY / Beekmantown |
| Kristy Cantwell, Plattsburgh | Jr. | 2nd Doubles | Plattsburgh, NY / Plattsburgh |
| Olivia Kunz, New Paltz | So. | 3rd Doubles | New York City, NY / Fiorello H Laguardia High of Music |
| Nina Genzone, New Paltz | Jr. | 3rd Doubles | Bellmore, NY / Sanford H. Calhoun |
| Second Team | |||
| Name, School | Year | Hometown/High School | |
| Christina Massoni, Cortland | So. | 1st Singles | West Babylon, NY / West Babylon |
| Danielle Copp, Oneonta | Jr. | 2nd Singles | Marcellus, NY / Marcellus |
| Emma Madigan, Cortland | Sr. | 3rd Singles | Endicott, NY / Union-Endicott |
| Sophia Gottschall, Plattsburgh | Sr. | 4th Singles | Plattsburgh, NY / Plattsburgh |
| Preston Fuerbacher, Cortland | Sr. | 5th Singles | Fairport, NY / Fairport |
| Megan Phelps, Plattsburgh | Sr. | 6th Singles | Ballston Spa, NY / Ballston Spa |
| Name, School | Year | Hometown/High School | |
| Emma Madigan, Cortland | Sr. | 1st Doubles | Endicott, NY / Union-Endicott |
| Christina Massoni, Cortland | So. | 1st Doubles | West Babylon, NY / West Babylon |
| Megan Phelps, Plattsburgh | Sr. | 3rd Doubles | Ballston Spa, NY / Ballston Spa |
| Sophie Gottschall, Plattsburgh | Sr. | 3rd Doubles | Plattsburgh, NY / Plattsburgh |
