Gators Go Bowling!

The Men's and Women's Tennis Teams at Allegheny went bowling the night before the John Carroll match as a way to bond before the match. Here are a few pictures from the team building event!

Allegheny Returns to Action with Win Over John Carroll

ERIE, Pa. – The Allegheny men's tennis squad returned to the court Sunday afternoon, as they traveled to the Pennbriar Athletic Club in Erie to host the Blue Streak of John Carroll University. In a match that had been postponed from September 10 due to inclement weather, the Gators would start their spring schedule on a great note, defeating John Carroll 7-2.

Allegheny would start strong, sweeping all three doubles matches to take an early 3-0 lead. Freshman transfer Sam Stephenson paired up with Alex Hurtuk in the most exciting doubles match of the afternoon, as they found themselves digging out of a 4-7 hole to take the number two doubles 9-7.

Competing in his first ever collegiate match, Stephenson would also come away victorious in his number four singles match, defeating Peter Scanillo 6-3, 6-2.

Patrick Cole once again dominated in number one singles, winning 6-2, 6-1. Alex Hurtuk cruised in number two singles 6-2, 6-2; and Daniel Conory sealed the win with a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

The Gators will be back in action Saturday, February 18 when they travel to Delaware, Ohio to take on the Battling Bishops of Ohio Wesleyan.

Allegheny 7, John Carroll 2
Feb 12, 2012 at Erie, Pa. (Pennbriar Athletic Club)

Singles competition
1. Patrick Cole (ALLM) def. Ryan Mullaney (JCU-M) 6-2, 6-1
2. Alex Hurtuk (ALLM) def. Sean Graham (JCU-M) 6-2, 6-2
3. Michael Hulseman (JCU-M) def. Kevin Kacer (ALLM) 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (11-9)
4. Sam Stephenson (ALLM) def. Peter Scanniello (JCU-M) 6-3, 6-2
5. Eric Grimaldi (JCU-M) def. Frank Mosconi (ALLM) 6-2, 6-3
6. Daniel Conroy (ALLM) def. Cass Stadnik (JCU-M) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Patrick Cole/Kevin Kacer (ALLM) def. Ryan Mullaney/Sean Graham (JCU-M) 8-2
2. Alex Hurtuk/Sam Stephenson (ALLM) def. Michael Hulseman/Peter Scanniello (JCU-M) 9-7
3. Frank Mosconi/Daniel Conroy (ALLM) def. Cass Stadnik/Eric Grimaldi (JCU-M) 8-3

Gators Prepare for Spring Season

The spring season is underway and the Allegheny Men's and Women's tennis teams have been hard at work preparing for their upcoming matches. The Gators have been working hard in the weight room, the pool, and on the tennis courts as they look ahead to an exciting season. Take a look at the video to see a few of the things the Gators have been doing during practice.

Luteran Named USTA Allegheny Mountain District Coach of the Year

MEADVILLE, Pa. - Allegheny men's and women's tennis Head Coach Jared Luteran was named the 2011 USTA Allegheny Mountain District Collegiate Coach of the Year earlier this month. Luteran has been at the helm for Allegheny since the 2002-03 season, and was selected as NCAC Co-Coach of the year in 2007.

The USTA Allegheny Mountain District Collegiate Coach of the Year honor is given to one college coach in the Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania, and Wheeling, West Virginia area who exemplifies the spirit of tennis both on and off the court.

"It is great to have such a quality program in the district," said President of the USTA Allegheny Mountain District David Dilettuso.

Luteran and the Gators tennis squads have had muich success in recent years. Just last season, Luteran coached NCAC Newcomer of the Year Pat Cole to top 25 regional ranking, while seeing eight men and women named with All-NCAC honors, including a record five on the women's side. The women had their best season since 1998, finishing third in the conference, while ending the year with their first ITA Regional Ranking.

Off the court, Allegheny tennis has been helping with the youth of Meadville. In the spring, the Gators held a Campus Kids Day; offering a chance for the children in the area to watch an Allegheny Tennis match for free. In the fall, Luteran and the Gators held a free clinic for all kids in the Meadville community; as well as holding their Make a Difference day, where the entire team went to the Meadville Children's Center and helped re-paint the inside of the center.

"It is an honor to be recognized by the USTA for all the hard work our players have put in on and off the court," Said Luteran on recieveing the Coach of the Year honor. "I would like to thank the AMD Board of Directors for this special recognition."

Tennis Staff Attends ITA Coaches Convention

Coach Luteran and Coach Kreitzer attended the 27th annual Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Coaches Convention at the Naples Grande Beach Resort, Dec. 13-16, 2011. If you watch the video clip above you will see Gator Tennis alum, Evan Gordon, hitting some balls and chatting with Stan Smith and Malivai Washington. Evan currently teaches at the Naples Grande Resort through Peter Burwash International and he was called upon to hit in during most of the on court demonstrations. This was the 8th convention for Coach Luteran and the first time attending for Coach Kreitzer.

The ITA Coaches Convention is one of the best professional development opportunities for collegiate tennis coaches today, providing them with the opportunity to receive continuing education, participate in important association business meetings and serve as leaders in promoting the growth of varsity college tennis.

Hundreds of men's and women's college tennis coaches from all divisions gathered for this year's convention in Naples, where they were treated to workshops led by some of the biggest names in the sport. Among the featured clinic presenters at the 2011 ITA Coaches Convention were seven-time Grand Slam champion Stan Smith, who won three national titles at USC; 1996 Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington, a former ITA No. 1 at the University of Michigan; International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2012 nominee Nick Bollettieri; and 2011 Wilson/ITA National Division I Coaches of the Year Kenny Thorne (Georgia Tech University men) and Roland Thornqvist (University of Florida women).

In addition to offering clinics, panel discussions, an awards banquet, a trade show and a chance to exchange ideas, the ITA Coaches Convention is also the venue for the association’s annual meetings, which included ITA Operating Committee, Divisional Roundtable and General Membership sessions.

“The convention is always a very exciting time of the year for our coaches association,” said ITA Executive Director David Benjamin. “Besides being able to take in great clinics and workshops at a beautiful resort in a great city, the coaches also have a forum to meet and discuss the important issues within college tennis today.”

A highlight each year at the ITA Coaches Convention is the ITA Awards Banquet. On Dec. 15, Thorne, Thornqvist and their fellow Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year winners from Division II, Division III, NAIA and Junior Colleges were honored for their work during the 2010-11 season. In addition, Claire Pollard of Northwestern University received the USTA/ITA National Campus and Community Outreach Award and Matt Meredith of Slippery Rock University was recognized as the USTA/ITA National QuickStart Provider of the Year.

Washington served as the keynote speaker of the evening, courtesy of Wilson Sporting Goods. Before peaking at No. 11 in the world as a professional, Washington was a two-time ITA All-American and the 1989 ITA National Player of the Year as a member of the Wolverines. He defeated Big-Ten rival Todd Martin of Northwestern in the 1996 Wimbledon semifinals.
For more information about the ITA Coaches Convention and a full list of award winners, please visit www.ITAtennis.com.