SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Eight different institutions from the Commonwealth Coast Conference were represented on the 2011 All-CCC Women’s Tennis Team, it was announced today by Commissioner Gregg M. Kaye. In addition to the all-conference team, five major individual award winners and the team sportsmanship award winner were also selected. Nichols College sophomore Anna Dyakiv was named CCC Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, and Nichols’ Lindsay Benoit was recognized as the CCC Rookie of the Year, Western New England’s Chrissy Babarisi was picked as the CCC Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, Nichols College's Paul Brower was honored as CCC Coach of the Year, and Gordon College was the recipient of the Team Sportsmanship Award.
Voting for the All-CCC team and each of the major awards was conducted among CCC women’s tennis coaches.
Joining Barbarisi, Benoit, and Dyakiv on the first team for singles were Kate Cioffi (Endicott), Emelie Cloutier (Endicott), Tracy Klein (Roger Williams), Megan Mulrooney (Curry) and Nichol Stevens (Salve Regina).
First team doubles selections included the Curry team of Emily Mongello and Mulrooney, the Nichols tandem of Dyakiv and Benoit, as well as the Nichols’ pair of Miller and Jillian McQuiggan.
Second team singles selections included Alexandra Cifone (Nichols), Sam Curran (Roger Williams), Amy Heacox (Endicott), Caitlin Hughes (Western New England), Chelsey Miller (Nichols), and Mongello (Curry).
Second team doubles picks included the Endicott pair of Cioffi and Emily Annis, the Western New England duo of Nikki DeSimone and Hughes, and the Roger Williams team of Klein and Curran.
Receiving honorable mention for singles were DeSimone, Elizabeth DiFilippo (Salve Regina), Hillary Dutton (Roger Williams), Natalie Egbert (Endicott), Kallie Garrett (Gordon), Joanna Gustafson (Wentworth), Jess Haffner (Western New England), Deborah Massaro (Wentworth) and Amanda Wolfe (Roger Williams).
Receiving honorable mention in doubles were the Nichols pair of Cifone and Kelsey Peterson, the Endicott tandem of Cloutier and Hughes, the Endicott pair of Laura MacLeod and Egbert, the Salve Regina pair of Stevens and Shannon O'Brien, and the Roger Williams duo of Wolfe and Libby Magner.
Dyakiv, a sophomore from Amsterdam, N.Y., has contributed a great deal for the Bison during her two years on the team. The 2010 CCC Player and Rookie of the Year was recognized once again for her efforts on the court, and was unanimously selected as the 2011 CCC Player of the Year. She will enter the 2011 CCC Championship with a 9-3 overall record from the #1 spot in the team’s lineup, which includes a perfect 6-0 record in conference action this fall. In doubles competition, Dyakiv has been impressive as well. When paired up with teammate Benoit, the duo has posted a #1 doubles record of 9-3, including an unblemished CCC record of 6-0.
Benoit, a freshman from Holden, Mass., has been an incredible addition to the Nichols lineup. Benoit has a near perfect record of 13-1 in singles play, including an 11-0 posting at the #2 spot and a 2-0 #1 singles record. In conference play she has been undefeated, with a 7-0 showing on the season. When teamed with Dyakiv at #1 doubles, the tandem has put up a 9-3 overall record, including a perfect 6-0 tally in CCC play. Benoit was also recognized as CCC Rookie of the Week four times this season.
Barbarisi, a senior psychology major from Feeding Hills, Mass., is closing out her career for the Golden Bears in style. On the court, Barbarisi has posted a 5-4 overall record, including a 4-4 record against conference opponents at the #1 spot in the lineup. In the classroom, Barbarisi has collected several academic accomplishments. She is a member of several academic societies, including Alpha Lambda Delta, Chi Alpha Sigma, and Psi Chi Honor Societies. She is the Vice President of the Psychology Club and a member of the Western New England SAAC. She was recently recognized for her academic efforts and leadership roles and was named to Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities. Barbarisi has also mentored a student with Asperger Syndrome on campus for two years.
Brower, in his eighth season guiding both the women’s and men’s programs at Nichols, has directed the Bison women to an 11-3 overall record, including an untainted 8-0 mark in conference play. In 2010, he directed the women’s team to its second consecutive regular season CCC title, first conference tournament crown and first NCAA tournament berth. In the past two fall seasons, the Nichols’ women’s tennis team posted a impressive 21-1 record in CCC play and an overall showing of 36-4. In addition to his 2009 recognition, this is Brower’s second time collecting CCC Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year accolades.
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