FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reigning NE10 Champion Selected to Finish First.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – After announcing the return of Pam Arpé as head coach late last week, Stonehill has been chosen to finish first in the Northeast-10 Conference Women's Tennis Coaches' Poll, as announced on Wednesday afternoon – receiving nine first-place votes and a total of 99 points from the league's head coaches.
The Skyhawks won their league-best sixth NE10 title in program history in 2018, their third since 2013 and first since 2014. Stonehill went a perfect 11-0 in NE10 contests last season, led by First Team All-Conference players Emma Markaryan and Samantha Ormesher – a pair of returning sophomores.
Isabelle Porter and Alexandra Vo, Stonehill's No. 1 and 2 singles players, will return this year with the intent of leading the Skyhawks back to the NCAA Tournament – as they bowed out to Goldey-Beacom in second round action last season.
Arpé returns to the Skyhawks after a successful 10-year stint at the helm from 2005-14. Stonehill qualified for postseason play each year that Arpé was in charge, while going a remarkable 107-13 in NE10 play and a pair of NE10 Championship titles.
Adelphi is tabbed second in the poll, recording 82 points and one first-place vote – narrowly edging Le Moyne, which tallied 81 points on one first-place tally. The Dolphins make a jump this preseason, coming off an NE10 semifinal appearance a year ago. SNHU (73 points) and Assumption (68) rounded-out the top five.
The 2019 NE10 women's tennis season is slated to open up on Thursday, Sept. 5, as Adelphi, Bentley, New Haven and Stonehill are all in action. The NE10 Championship is tabbed for Sunday, Oct. 27 at the highest remaining seed's home court.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.