2011 All-Little East Women's Tennis Teams Announced

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Bridgewater State University sophomore Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) was honored as the 2011 Little East Women's Tennis Player of the Year this afternoon when the conference office announced its annual all-conference teams and major award winners. Rhode Island College freshman Chelsea Brown (Wallingford, Conn.) was selected as the Rookie of the Year in a vote by the Little East coaches. Salem State University Joe Dunn, Sr. was tabbed as the Coach of the Year by his peers, while the Anchorwomen repeated as the Team Sportsmanship Award recipients for the second-straight season.

Williamson helped Bridgewater State capture the program's first outright Little East regular-season championship and third overall from the No. 1 singles and doubles position. The sophomore from Ludlow, Mass. is making her second appearance on the All-Little East, first-team after earning third-flight honors as a rookie. She won 11 of her 12 matches at top-flight singles in straight sets to post an overall mark of 12-2. Williamson dominated the conference circuit in 2011, needing just the minimum two sets in seven of her eight victories. She closed the campaign with a personal seven-match winning streak, including two straight-set victories in the 2011 Little East Championship Tournament to help the Bears advance to the finals. Williamson combined with junior Ashley Pereira (Assonet, Mass.) to earn All-Little East, second-team recognition. The duo registered an 11-5 overall mark and a 7-1 record in the conference. Williamson was honored as the conference's top weekly performer twice on the campaign.

Brown is the first Rhode Island College women's tennis student-athlete in program history to receive the coveted top rookie award. The freshman from Wallingford, Conn. made an immediate impact on the Anchorwomen lineup, starting each of her 13 matches from the top-flight singles position. Brown posted an overall record of 3-13, including a 2-6 mark in conference action. She earned her first collegiate victory against Assumption College on Sept. 10, winning a third-set tiebreaker. Brown registered both her conference victories in straight-sets, defeating her opponent from Western Connecticut and Worcester State. She teamed with senior Gabriela Batek (Greenville, R.I.) to register a 3-13 mark at No.1 doubles. Brown was selected as the conference's top rookie during the weekly award program once on the season.

Dunn guided the Lady Vikings to the program's first Little East Women's Tennis Championship and accompanying automatic berth into the 2012 NCAA Division III Tournament field. Under his direction, Salem State boasted an overall record of 12-2, including a 7-1 mark inside the conference circuit. The Lady Vikings sported a season-high seven-match win streak to storm out of the gates. Salem State dropped its lone conference match to Bridgewater State in the regular-season finale to earn the No.2 seed in the conference tournament. The Lady Vikings easily dispatched third-seeded Plymouth State in the semifinals to advance to the championship round and setup a rematch with the Bears. Salem State edged Bridgewater State, 5-4, in a see-saw affair as senior captain Lauren Turenne (Reading, Mass.) clinched the title at No. 2 singles. Dunn mentored four All-Little East singles players and three doubles teams. He also had two students on the 2011 Little East Fall All-Academic Teams. Dunn and the Lady Vikings will find out their NCAA opponent when the championship field is announced in May.

Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men's and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference is sponsoring its 26th season in 2011-2012. Western Connecticut State University joined the conference in 1993-1994, while Keene State College raised its current membership to eight teams in 1997-1998. The Little East sponsors 19 intercollegiate athletic programs.