Utica, NY – The Utica College women's tennis team is set to host its home opener on Wednesday at the UC Tennis Courts. The Pioneers will open up their 2016 campaign against Empire 8 Conference opponent Ithaca College at 4 p.m.
Senior Leadership: The Pioneers return six players from their 2015 squad including three seniors,
Shannon Fillmore (Somerset, NJ/Franklin ),
Gabriella Morreale (Utica, NY/T.R Proctor) and
Anastasia Fitzpatrick (Parksville, NY/Liberty) … Fitzpatrick competed in 12 matches last season at second and third singles, to go along with 11 doubles matches, pulling out a victory in second doubles as she teamed up with junior
LuLu Zhang (Wenzhou, China /Newcomers) … Fillmore competed at fourth, fifth and sixth singles last season and she also participated in nine doubles matches … Morreale participated in ten matches last Fall and earned her lone singles victory of the season at fifth singles … Morreale also spent time at third and fourth singles for the Pioneers.
Zhang Leads the Way: Junior
LuLu Zhang (Wenzhou, China /Newcomers) won a team-best five matches at singles last season between fourth, fifth and sixth singles … Zhang went 2-3 at fourth singles, 1-1 at fifth singles and 2-1 at sixth singles in 2015.
Key Returners: Junior
Monica Johnson (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) participated in 11 matches at first and second singles last season and looks to have a break out year … Johnson also teamed up with alum
Rose Zaloom (Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor) and senior
Anastasia Fitzpatrick (Parksville, NY/Liberty) at first doubles … Sophomore
Christa Pham (Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor) also returns with one year of collegiate tennis under her belt.
Newcomers: The Pioneers welcome four newcomers to this year's roster including
Bianca Bockhaus (Shenorock, NY/Somers),
Sara Gribanoff (West Winfield, NY/Mount Markham),
Julianne Pieros (Alpha, NJ/Phillipsburg) and
Rose Sa Ji Thuzar (Utica, NY) … UC also welcomes assistant coach
Allison Jones, who will assist Head Coach
John Nigro … Nigro is in the midst of his 30
th season at the helm of the tennis programs … Jones comes to Utica after a successful playing career at Division II LeMoyne College where she co-captained the Dolphins to their first appearance in the NE-10 Conference Tournament since 2009.
