Gator women's tennis defeats John Carroll in first spring match

Feb 22, 2009

ERIE, Pa. - The Allegheny women's tennis team played its first match of the spring season and claimed a 6-3 victory over John Carroll in non-league competition at the Westwood Racquet Club on Sunday.

Lauren Kristofco (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle - Pictured to the left), Janna Dickerson (Fort Collins, Colo./Poudre), Alyssa Tom (Poland, Ohio/Poland Seminary) and Deb Landau (Wallingford, Pa./Strath Haven) won singles matches for the Gators. Allegheny also won two of the three doubles matches.

At first singles, Kristofco defeated Amy Marchlen, 6-1, 6-1, while at four singles, Dickerson battled back from an early deficit to take down Meredith Skaggs, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8.

In fifth singles, Tom won over Ashley Bauer, 6-1, 6-1, and Landau defeated Athena Pappis, 7-5, 3-6, 10-3, at sixth singles.

In doubles play, Kristofco and Sara Longo (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) teamed to beat Skaggs and Maria Ciccolini at first doubles, 9-7. Dickerson and Elyse Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) won in third doubles, 8-2, over Bauer and Kate Lawson.

The Gator women will be in action next when they travel to Hilton Head Island, S.C., for their spring break trip, which opens up on March 15. On consecutive days, the Gators will play Macalester, Nebraska Wesleyan, Nazareth and St. Lawrence.

Men's tennis team opens spring season with victory over JCU

Feb 22, 2009

ERIE, Pa. - The Allegheny men's tennis team opened its spring season with an 8-1 win over John Carroll in non-conference action at the Westwood Racquet Club. The Gators swept doubles competition and won five of six singles matches.

At first doubles, Matt Chiricosta (Avon Lake, Ohio/St. Ignatius - Pictured to the left) and Ben Hurtuk (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) combined to defeat James Steward and Matt Tomayko, 8-6, while Evan Gordon (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) and Jake Allmaras (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) won at second doubles over Chad Ruehs and Mike Finissi, 8-3.

In the third doubles match, Eric Roginek (Fresh Meadows, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) and Zack Kerosky (Ashtabula, Ohio/Lakeside) were victorious for the Gators, 8-2, against Ross Venzke and Mike Halseman.

Chiricosta, Gordon, Allmaras, Hurtuk and Roginek were winners in singles play. In first singles, Chiricosta defeated Steward, 6-1, 6-1, and Gordon defeated Tomayko, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, in the second singles match.

At fourth singles, Allmaras handled Finissi, 7-5, 6-3; Hurtuk won over Venzke in fifth singles, 6-4, 6-2; and Roginek won at sixth singles against Halseman, 6-4, 6-4.

The Gator men will be in action next when they travel to Hilton Head Island, S.C., for their spring break trip, which opens up on March 15. On consecutive days, the Gators will play Macalester, Nebraska Wesleyan, Nazareth and St. Lawrence.

Spring Season Begins for the Gator Tennis Teams

Practice began for both the men's and women's tennis teams at Allegheny the week of February 2nd. The players and coaches were both excited to be back on the courts. The first week and a half of practice has been fantastic. The players have come out everyday ready to work hard and put in the kind of effort the coaching staff always looks for. The Gators are preparing for their upcoming season which kicks off with a match against John Carroll on February 22nd at Westwood Racquet Club in Erie, PA. Following the match against John Carroll the team will return to practicing before the much anticipated spring break trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on March 13-20th.

~Coach Luteran

Coach Luteran Attends ITA Coaches Convention

Coach Emily and Coach Luteran checking out the ITA Mini-Trade show. This picture is courtesy of the ITA website.

I just returned from the 24th annual ITA Coaches Convention in Naples, FL. This was the fourth time I have attended the ITA convention and once again it was a fantastic learning experience. I always come back invigorated and ready to start the spring season with several new ideas I picked up from many of the best coaches in the world.

This year's convention featured Stan Smith, Zina Garrison, Nick Saviano, and many others. There were nearly 300 other college coaches from all divisions and all parts of the country. The ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) is the governing body of collegiate tennis and was founded in 1956.

~Coach Luteran

Holiday Dinner at Coach Luteran's House

Coach Luteran was kind enough to have both teams over for a holiday dinner this past weekend. The teams enjoyed a feast of food all thanks to Coach Luteran and Coach Emily. The players ate, enjoyed eachother's company as well as cheered on their favorite NFL teams in Coach Luteran's basement. The evening served as a great chance for the men's and women's teams to get together and take a little break from their studies, relax and have fun. Finals are fastly approaching with the completion of first semester coming next week. Following finals the players will be heading home for the holidays and will be returning mid-January. Happy Holidays to all!

~Coach Eisele