| Year: | 2016 |
| Team: | Women's Tennis |
The Perfect Season.
In the wide world of sports, from the youth level to the professional ranks, attaining perfection throughout an entire season is coveted by many teams, but achieved by so few.
The most successful women’s tennis team in Suffolk University knows what it feels like to reach the highest peak of the mountain. During that memorable fall 2007 season, this special collection of student-athletes posted a 14-0 record and captured the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) regular season and tournament titles.
One of the most rewarding moments of that memorable season was when the Rams defeated three-time league defending champion, Simmons, 6-3, to capture the GNAC regular season title, ending the Sharks’ 36-match conference winning streak. Less than two weeks later, Suffolk posted a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Sharks to be crowned league champs.
The next stop on the team’s fairytale ride was a first-ever berth in the 2008 NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championships.
“What made the 2007 team special was that we had so many hard working and talented players who were very competitive,” said head coach Steve Counihan, who now mentors both the women’s and men’s tennis squads at Suffolk. “They were an enthusiastic group who pushed each other to get better every day.”
During that unforgettable season, the Rams were led by senior Jen Nelson, a two-time selection as GNAC Player of the Year and first-team all-conference in 2005 and 2006. She was a productive force in both singles and doubles competition.
The dynamic duo of sophomores Kaitlynn Cates and Catarina Rosa tallied a combined record of 49-2 on the season in singles and doubles action, while freshman Alexandra Hernandez-Vallant earned GNAC Co-Rookie of the Year honors after notching an overall 17-3 mark in singles and doubles play.
“We had a lot of depth and quality with our players upfront and it trickled down to the rest of the team.” noted Counihan.
Team Members: Laila Bdour, Kaitlynn Cates, Alexandra Hernandez-Vallant, Cori Kurner, Thuy Le, Stephanie Nasr, Jen Nelson, Katelyn Paquette, Jenna Pecoraro, Catarina Rosa, Kellie Sturma, Mimi Tran, Rachael Troia
Head Coach: Steve Counihan
Assistant Coach: Isaac Stahl