NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned three of the four major Little East Conference Women’s Tennis awards this afternoon after a vote by the conference’s eight head coaches. Sophomore Amy Lopes (Dartmouth, Mass.) was named the Player of the Year, while freshman Kelsey Grossmann (Holliston, Mass.) was selected the Rookie of the Year. Corsair boss Ralph Perry was tabbed the Coach of the Year, while the University of Southern Maine was honored with the Team Sportsmanship Award.

Lopes is making her first appearance on the Little East All-Conference teams, earning a first-team selection at top-flight singles and doubles. The sensational sophomore has set the tone for the UMass Dartmouth starting lineup all season, boasting a 12-0 mark at No. 1 singles and a 12-1 record No. 1 doubles. Lopes did not drop a set in the conference circuit at top-flight singles, sporting a 6-0 mark. She continued her momentum into the Little East Tournament, dispatching all three of her oppositions in straight sets. Lopes combined with senior Becky Bullock (Wrentham, Mass.) to post a 6-1 mark at top-flight doubles.

Grossmann made an immediate impact in her first collegiate campaign, earning all-conference, first-team honors at third singles. The Holliston, Mass. product won 11 of her 12 matches in the third position this season, including a 6-1 record in the Little East. Grossmann also earned a victory in all three appearances at top-flight singles. Grossmann swept five of her seven conference oppositions in straight sets at No. 3 singles, while posting a 1-1 mark in three-set matches. Grossmann also registered a 9-5 overall doubles record, playing primarily with Alexa Fiorita (Reading, Mass.) at the second position.

Perry led UMass Dartmouth to the program’s most successful season in the program’s history in terms of wins and conference ranking. The Corsairs have won 10 straight matches to post a 15-1 overall record, marking the fifth time in the program’s history UMass Dartmouth has recorded at least 10 victories on the campaign. The Corsairs’ 15 wins are four more than the previous standard, established by the 1996 and 1997 clubs. Perry led his charges to an unblemished 7-0 mark in the conference circuit to earn the top seed and right to host the semifinal and championship rounds of the Little East Conference Women’s Tennis Championship Tournament. A tremendous motivator, Perry mentored eight all-conference student-athletes, including four first-team selections.

The Huskies earned the inaugural team sportsmanship award. Head Coach Hans Romer led the University of Southern Maine to a 1-12 overall record. The Huskies swept Pine Manor, 7-0, on Sept. 10 to earn the club’s lone victory. Southern Maine will return six of its seven student-athletes in the starting lineup.

Bridgewater State College placed the most student-athletes on the singles first teams (3), while also earning a second team nod. All three of the Bear doubles combinations were honored, including a first-team selection at No. 3. Three Western Connecticut State University players were named to the all-conference singles teams, while the Colonials also claimed the top second doubles team. Rhode Island College rounded out the all-conference teams with a first and second team selection in the singles field.

Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference has since grown to its present eight-school membership, sponsoring championship play in 19 intercollegiate athletics: baseball; men's and women's basketball; men's and women's cross country; field hockey; men's and women's lacrosse; men's and women's soccer; softball; women's swimming; men's and women's tennis; men's and women's indoor track; men's and women's outdoor track and women's volleyball.


2008 Little East All-Conference Women's Tennis Teams

Player of the Year: Amy Lopes, UMass Dartmouth
Rookie of the Year: Kelsey Grossmann, UMass Dartmouth
Coach of the Year: Ralph Perry, UMass Dartmouth
Team Sportsmanship Award: University of Southern Maine

FIRST TEAM SINGLES

No. 1 Amy Lopes, UMass Dartmouth
No. 2 Lauren Donnelly, Bridgewater State College
No. 3 Kelsey Grossmann, UMass Dartmouth
No. 4 Alyssa Hoynack, Western Connecticut State University
         Catarina Rosa, Bridgewater State College
No. 5 Pauline Ucher, Bridgewater State College
No. 6 Danielle Linscott, Bridgewater State College
         Ashley St. Amand, Rhode Island College     

FIRST TEAM DOUBLES

No. 1 Amy Lopes & Becky Bullock, UMass Dartmouth
No. 2 Brittany Hoynack & Alyssa Hoynack, Western Connecticut State University
No. 3 Catarina Rosa & Paula Araujo, Bridgewater State College

SECOND TEAM SINGLES

No. 1 Meg Funk, Rhode Island College
No. 2 Lauren Post, Western Connecticut State University
No. 3 Brittany Hoynack, Western Connecticut State University
No. 4 Allison De Angelis, UMass Dartmouth
No. 5 Alexa Fiorita, UMass Dartmouth
No. 6 Blair Dalrymple, UMass Dartmouth

SECOND TEAM DOUBLES

No. 1 Lauren Donnelly & Jessica Francis, Bridgewater State College
No. 2 Rachel Elman & Paulina Ucher, Bridgewater State College
No. 3 Blair Dalrymple & Allison De Angelis,UMass Dartmouth