Women's Tennis 2019 Season Preview

Video Preview

Following the departure of 15-year head coach Glenn Nathan, former SJC men's tennis standout Steve Asti and Robyn Romanoff, 2009 ECC Rookie of the Year with Dowling College, take over the St. Joseph's College (L.I.) women's tennis program in tandem as the team prepares to defend its Skyline Conference title in 2019.

After posting a 9-3 regular season mark with a 5-1 Skyline record, SJC qualified for the conference playoffs as the second seed. SJC went on to defeat Farmingdale State, 5-2, in the semifinal and Purchase, 5-1, in the final to claim the program's first-ever Skyline Conference championship.

The Returners: Asti and Romanoff welcome back seven players from last season including five seniors. Reprising her role at first singles is senior Amanda Post, who was named Skyline Player of the Week on October 8 last year. Fellow seniors Nora Burnett, Alana Caporale, Lindsey Charrier and Mackenzie Martocci bring back experience and leadership to a team aiming to repeat as champions.

The Newcomer: The sole recruit for the Golden Eagles is Trinity Behlen, a freshman out of Bellport High School. Behlen has been touted by her coaches as passionate and a hard worker.

Expectations: As defending champs, the Golden Eagles will have targets on their backs and it will be difficult to repeat, even more so when considering they've lost their second and third singles players from last season. But with a wealth of talent and experience in reserve, Asti and Romanoff expect SJC to qualify for the playoffs and contend for a second title.

When they begin: The Golden Eagles open their 2019 season on Tuesday, September 3 when they host William Paterson for a non-conference contest at the OFC at 5:00 pm. Skyline Conference play begins on Tuesday, September 24 away at Yeshiva University (7:00 pm).