Roche of Middlebury Named Player of the Year

HADLEY, Mass. - Middlebury senior Amy Roche (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) has been named the 2007 NESCAC Women's Tennis Player of the Year, as decided by the conference coaches. Roche helped her squad secure the top seed in the NESCAC Women's Tennis Championship this year and a 10-4 overall record on the season heading into this weekend's NCAA Tournament.

Roche also earned NESCAC All-Conference First Team Singles for the third year in a row, posting a 13-5 record in singles competition. The NESCAC Rookie of the Year in 2004, Roche was also honored for her doubles play with a spot on the Second Team, as she is 15-5 so far this season.

Seniors Beret Remak (Minneapolis, Minn.) from Connecticut College and Jen Luten (Clayton, Mo.) from Tufts join Roche from last year's First Team Singles. Remak went 11-1 this spring and finished the regular season at 18-3 in singles competition for the Camels. Holding a 16-5 singles record, Luten earned All-NESCAC recognition for the third consecutive year after being named to the Second Team Singles during her sophomore campaign. Luten broke the career record for wins at Tufts with her 59th victory on April 10 at Amherst, and currently stands at 61 wins during her four seasons with the Jumbos. Luten's doubles play was just as impressive once again this year, as she garnered First Team Doubles recognition for the second-straight year with senior partner Kylyn Deary (Jackson, Mich.), a first time honoree. The duo has posted an 18-6 doubles record for the Jumbos.

After a breakout rookie campaign with Bowdoin last season, sophomore Sarah D'Elia (Fairfield, Conn.) received NESCAC All-Conference First Team recognition for both her singles and doubles play in 2007. D'Elia, the NESCAC Rookie of the Year and a Second Team honoree a year ago, has played in the #1 singles spot for most of the season for the Polar Bears, scratching out an 11-11 record. On the doubles side, D'Elia has teamed up with junior Kristen Raymond (Dover, Mass.), also a First Team Doubles selection, and posted a 20-5 mark.

Amherst junior Alicia Menezes (Staten Island, N.Y.) took home All-NESCAC First Team Doubles accolades for the second-straight year while also receiving First Team Singles honors for the first time in her career. Menezes is 13-10 in singles play and dependable once again this season in doubles action, holding a 21-4 record with rookie partner Brittany Berckes (Seacaucus, N.J.). The first year player was also a NESCAC All-Conference First Team Doubles selection.

Williams sophomore Cary Gibson (Augusta, Ga.) rounds out the 2007 NESCAC All-Conference First Team. As a first year player in the conference last year, Gibson earned First Team honors for her doubles play. This year, Gibson earned First Team Singles and Second Team Doubles honors with a 24-8 singles record and an 18-11 doubles mark. Gibson and the Ephs are one of five NESCAC teams that will be competing in the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament this weekend.

NESCAC Rookie of the Year went to Williams' Grace Baljon (Ponte Verda Beach, Fla.). Baljon has had a stellar start to her career with the Ephs this season, going 24-4 in singles play in the #2 spot and 22-4 in doubles action. Baljon, who was also recognized on the All-Conference Second Team, has won seven of her last eight singles matches, including a three-set victory in the final match of the 2007 NESCAC Women's Tennis Championship last weekend.

NESCAC Sportswoman of the Year was bestowed upon Middlebury junior Claire Smyser (Houston, Texas). Smyser also earned All-Conference Second Team Singles and Doubles recognition, going 12-6 in singles play while also posting a 17-5 record in doubles action.

Amherst head coach Jackie Bagwell came away with NESCAC Coach of the Year honors. In her 16th season with the Lord Jeffs, Bagwell guided her squad to a 14-4 record and a fourth-consecutive NESCAC Women's Tennis crown.