Sfakianaki, Deaso earn first team all NEAC East Division honors in doubles

North Adams, MA- The MCLA duo of Mariza Sfakianaki and Emily Deaso were selected to the All NEAC East All Conference team that was announced this afternoon by the league offices.  It's the second straight year that they've been honorees.

Colby-Sawyer junior Ashley Woodside (Hampden, Maine) has been selected as the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) East Division Women's Tennis Player of the Year, while Johnson State freshman Grace Page (Bennington, Vt.) was tabbed Rookie of the Year and Thomas senior Lindsey Allen (Jay, Maine) was named the Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year. Johnson State head coach Michele Whitmore was voted the 2016 NEAC Coach of the Year and eight women's tennis student-athletes were selected to the NEAC East Women's Tennis Sportsmanship Team to headline the 2016 All-Conference announcement.

First team doubles selections include the Colby-Sawyer pairs of Gemerek and Woodside and Miller and sophomore Aislinn O'Connor (New Fairfield, Conn ), and the MCLA duo of juniors Emily Deaso (Pittsfield, Mass.) and Mariza Sfakianaki (Williamstown, Mass.).

Second team singles honorees include Castleton junior Ciara Bannister (St. Albans, Vt.) and sophomore Kirsten Kruk (Clifton Park, N.Y.), Colby-Sawyer junior Lauren Blanchard (Agawam, Mass.) and O'Connor, Johnson State sophomore Jana Somero (St. Albans, Vt.), and MCLA's Sfakianaki.

Second team doubles choices include the Colby-Sawyer tandem of Blanchard and junior Christine Hill (Wallingford, Conn.) and the Husson pairs of sophomore Charlotte Bednarz (Westport, Mass.) and senior Sarah Smith (Calais, Maine) and Blessard and senior Katie Pratt (Rockport, Maine).

The NEAC East Women's Tennis Sportsmanship Team is reserved for those who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The honorees are individuals who have positively affected the women's tennis culture and match environment and whose behavior clearly demonstrates sportsmanship and integrity that go beyond the tennis playing rules and etiquette. The following eight individuals have been selected to the 2016 Sportsmanship Team, Castleton junior Kyla Zsido (Rutland, Vt.), Colby-Sawyer's O'Connor, Green Mountain senior Alex Reedy (Rutland, Vt.), Husson freshman Jocelyn Bell (Holden, Maine), Johnson State junior Nicole Monick (Bennington, Vt.), Lyndon senior Carina Alden (Monterey, Mass.), MCLA freshman Sarah Hachadourian (Longmeadow, Mass.), and Thomas junior Amelia Guimond (Fort Kent, Maine).

2016 NEAC East Division All-Conference Teams

To view a PDF list of the All-Conference team click HERE. 

First Team Singles

Meridith Blessard, Sophomore, Husson
Maddy Gemerek, Sophomore, Colby-Sawyer
Evelyn Miller, Junior, Colby-Sawyer
Olivia Mora, Junior, Thomas
Katherina Van Woerkom, Senior, Johnson State
Ashley Woodside, Junior, Colby-Sawyer

First Team Doubles

Colby-Sawyer - Maddy Gemerek, Sophomore  / Ashley Woodside, Junior
Colby-Sawyer - Evelyn Miller, Junior / Aislinn O'Connor, Sophomore
MCLA - Emily Deaso, Junior / Mariza Sfakianaki, Junior

Second Team Singles

Ciara Bannister, Junior, Castleton
Lauren Blanchard, Junior, Colby-Sawyer
Kirsten Kruk, Sophomore, Castleton
Aislinn O'Connor, Sophomore, Colby-Sawyer
Mariza Sfakianaki, Junior, MCLA
Jana Somero, Sophomore, Johnson State

Second Team Doubles

Colby-Sawyer - Lauren Blanchard, Junior / Christine Hill, Junior
Husson - Charlotte Bednarz, Sophomore / Sarah Smith, Senior
Husson - Meridith Blessard, Sophomore / Katie Pratt, Senior

Player of the Year
Ashley Woodside, Junior, Colby-Sawyer

Rookie of the Year
Grace Page, Freshman, Johnson State

Senior Scholar Athlete
Lindsey Allen, Senior, Thomas

Coach of the Year
Michele Whitmore, Eighth Season, Johnson State

Sportsmanship Team

Carina Alden, Senior, Lyndon
Jocelyn Bell, Freshman, Husson
Amelia Guimond, Junior, Thomas
Sarah Hachadourian, Freshman, MCLA
Nicole Monick, Junior, Johnson State
Aislinn O'Connor, Sophomore, Colby-Sawyer
Alex Reedy, Senior, Green Mountain
Kyla Zsido, Junior, Castleton