October 23, 2012

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Bridgewater State University nearly swept the Little East women's tennis major awards program this afternoon, when the conference office announced its annual all-conference teams. Bears junior Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) was named the 2012 Little East Player of the Year, while Barry Gorman was chosen as the Coach of the Year. Rhode Island College freshman Sadie Campanella (Chepachet, R.I.) was selected as the Rookie of the Year to complete the major awards program.

Williamson is the first women's tennis student-athlete to repeat as the top player in the conference circuit since the Little East began sponsoring the award in 2008. The junior from Ludlow, Mass. is also making her second-straight appearance as the top-flight singles representative on the All-Little East, first team. Williamson paced the Bridgewater State lineup with an overall record of 13-1, including an 8-0 mark against conference competition. Williamson has yet to lose a match against a Little East opponent in her three-year career to sport a 24-0 record, including 16-0 mark at top-flight singles. In 2012, she defeated seven of her eight conference opponents in straight-sets. Williamson also combined with senior Lauren Hopp (Dartmouth, Mass.) to post an 11-4 record. The Bears top doubles duo registered a 7-1 mark to earn All-Little East, second-team honors.

Campanella is just the second Anchorwoman to be voted as the top rookie in the conference, joining teammate Chelsea Brown (2011). The freshman from Chepachet, R.I. made an immediate impact in the Rhode Island College starting lineup, earning the top-flight singles position. Campanella helped the Anchorwomen clinch the fifth-seed in the Little East Women's Tennis Championship with a 7-6 record at No. 1 singles, including a 4-2 mark inside the conference. She recorded her first collegiate victory with a 6-3, 6-1 decision over her opponent from Salve Regina. Campanella strung together a personal-best four-game winning streak between Sept. 13 and Sept. 22, where she defeated three Little East opponents. She was the recipient of the weekly conference rookie of the week award twice during the campaign.

Gorman is making his second appearance in the past three years as the top coach in the Little East. Under his direction, Gorman led Bridgewater State to at least 12 wins for the fifth-straight season with an overall record of 13-2. The Bears claimed the programs second consecutive Little East regular season title with an 8-0 mark against conference opponents. Gorman and his charges earned the top seed and home court advantage throughout the 2012 Little East Women's Tennis Championship. Bridgewater State defeated Plymouth State (5-0) and Salem State (5-0) to capture the program's third overall conference tournament title. The Bears will be making their third appearance in the past six years in the NCAA Women's Tennis Division III tournament.

Formed in 1986, the Little East serves as New England's premier athletic conference for public institutions in NCAA Division III. Featuring 19 championship sports, the Little East sponsors quality competition in every season for our student athletes. Our eight state colleges and universities dedicate themselves to an ongoing fulfillment of the Division III mission of passion, responsibility, sportsmanship, and citizenship.

2012 Little East Women's Tennis All-Conference Teams
First Team Singles
Flight	Name	Institution
1	Jenna Williamson	Bridgewater State University
2	Ashley Pereira	Bridgewater State University
3	Jessica Spinale	Salem State University
4	Alison Vautrin	Bridgewater State University
5	Lauren Hopp	Bridgewater State University
6	Melissa Flynn	Bridgewater State University
Second Team Singles
1	Sara Burke	Plymouth State University
2	Hannah Schulze	University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
	Maddy Ward	Salem State University
3	Nitsa Ioannides	Plymouth State University
4	Anna Yaskell	Salem State University
5	April McDermott	Salem State University
6	Casey Auman	University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
First Team Doubles
1	Emily Boutin	University of Southern Maine
	Mary Moran
2	Brittney Hislop	Bridgewater State University
	Ashley Pereira
3	Liz Girczyc	University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
	Hannah Schulze
Second Team Doubles
1	Lauren Hopp	Bridgewater State University
	Jenna Williamson
1	Sara Burke	Plymouth State University
	Molly Heartfield
2	Allison Furtado	University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
	Angela Pollard
3	Rachael Eramo	Bridgewater State University
	Alison Vautrin
Player of the Year
Jenna Williamson, Bridgewater State University
Rookie of the Year
Sadie Campanella, Rhode Island College
Coach of the Year
Barry Gorman, Bridgewater State University