by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information

Corsairs return four veterans to defend two-time Little East tennis championship

Coach Warren Preti knows it won't be easy for the Corsairs' women's tennis team to improve on last year's 11-2 dual match record and a second straight Little East Conference championship.

Entering his 10th season as UMass Dartmouth's head coach, Preti's Corsairs appear up to the challenge. UMass Dartmouth lost only two players to graduation and returns four players who have at least one Little East Conference championship to their credit.

Leading the Corsairs in 1998 will be #1 singles player from last year and the defending LEC champion, junior Mary Bourque (Rochester, MA) (7-3 at #1 singles). In addition to her #1 singles title, Bourque was paired with teammate senior captain Kelly Berger (Buzzards Bay, MA) and captured the conference's #1 doubles crown.

Undefeated at #2 singles at 8-0 last year, Berger will try to add to her five LEC championships after a junior season that saw her win her second singles title and her third doubles crown. Preti expects a tough competition for the top singles position this season between Bourque and Berger.

Senior captain Kasha Gula (Mansfield, MA) will return at #3 singles after a solid showing last year at both the #3 singles (6-3) and #2 doubles. A fourth-year player for the Corsairs, Gula's #2 doubles partner will be senior captain Shannon Kelleher (Saugus, MA), who also earned her first LEC title last year at #5 singles. Kelleher posted a 5-2 singles mark as a junior last year.

"Those first four singles players are all experienced singles and doubles players," said Preti, who will be joined by assistant coach Pat Riccardi. "Barring injury they should all be very competitive and at the top of our lineup.

The two players lost to graduation a year ago filled the #5 and #6 singles spots, leaving a wide-open competition to fill those positions. Preti said several players will be competing for the two remaining singles positions, including third year player Christine Mace (Abington, MA) and Christina Bendzewicz (Tyngsboro, MA), a second-year player for the Corsairs. Also looking to work their way into the starting lineup are a pair of second-year players, Tina Nguyen (Shrewsbury, MA) and Cari Leslie (Glen Cove, NY).

With the defending LEC champions at #1 in Bourque-Berger and returing veterans Gula-Kelleher at #2 doubles, Preti will be looking for a third doubles team to emerge. Among the players who Preti has been watching are first-year players Tamsin Zimbone (Bridgewater, MA) Kristen Bruce (Fairhaven, MA), Isabelle Eiff (Longmeadow, MA), Dana Feinstein (Franklin, MA), Melissa Messier (Dighton, MA) and sophomore Jennifer Krol (Belchertown, MA).

The Corsairs will find out how strong they are when they open their season by hosting Southern Maine on Sept. 12. Preti said the Huskies, the LEC runners-up to UMass Dartmouth a year ago, will be among the Corsairs' top competitors this season.

Among the Corsairs' other tough matches for the season are Wheaton College on Sept. 17, Connecticut College on Sept. 26, Johnson and Wales on Sept. 29 and Salve Regina to close out the regular season on Oct. 27.

The ultimate test for UMass Dartmouth will be defending its two consecutive LEC titles on Oct. 17 and 18. Last season, the Corsairs swept four of six singles matches and both doubles crown to successfully defend their title. The women's title also extended Preti's string of men's and women's combined LEC championship to five in a row.

UMass Dartmouth will conclude its season by participating in the New England Division III championships on October 23-24 at Amherst College.