Apr. 22, 2001

Hopewell Junction, N.Y. - The Siena women's tennis team placed fifth out of ten teams at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships this weekend at the Americana Tennis Club.

The bright spot on the day was the fifth straight win by Nikki Mayer (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) and Andrea Disponzio (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) at first doubles. The duo defeated Niagara's Milena Matijevic and Colleen Willick 8-5 for the Saints only doubles win of the match. Mayer and Disponzio were both defeated in the third set in their singles matches while Eileen Gallocher (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) posted a 6-1, 6-1 win after the team portion of the match was already decided.

In the Saints first round match of the consolation bracket, Siena posted a 4-3 victory over Fairfield in a contest that was played indoors at St. Peter's College. The match was won on a dramatic finish by Eileen Gallocher who won her match in fifth singles in a tie-break third set. Gallocher lost the first set to the Stags' Alyssa Haddad 3-6 before rebounding in the second set with a 7-5 win and taking the tie-break set 10-8. Gallocher's win was set up by Vicki Dunham's (Long Beach, N.Y./Sacred Heart) win at fourth singles that put the outcome of the match in Gallocher's hands.

"The turning point in the match came with Vicki's victory," Jeff Bloomberg, Interim Head Coach said. "She played her heart out tonight. Her serve wasn't as sharp as it usually is so she had to depend on breaking her opponent's serve with her groundstrokes and they didn't let her down. Again and again Vicki wrongfooted her Fairfield foe with piercing groundstrokes into the corners for winners. That was the difference. She had lost a few 3 setters this season but she came out on top when we needed it most.

Also earning key victories in the Saints' win were Nikki Mayer and Andrea Disponzio who each picked up victories in singles action. Mayer topped the Stags' Kelly DiMario convincingly 6-0, 6-1 in first doubles while Disponzio rolled over Krissy Fitzpatrick 6-1, 6-2 in second singles.

In the consolation championship game, the Saints stunned the conference with a 4-1 victory over the Iona Gaels to earn a fifth place finish after finishing tenth the previous two seasons. The Saints began the day with an important 8-3 victory in second doubles by Vicki Dunham and Betsy Brookins (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem) that gave the Saints' valuable points entering the singles portion of the match. Siena also earned a point in third doubles as Iona only fielded five players and were forced to forfeit the match.

The Saints dominated their singles matches winning three of them, while leading in two other that were halted when the Saints had earned enough points for a team victory. Nikki Mayer and Andrea Disponzio rebounded from a loss in first doubles to each easily win their singles matches. Mayer topped the Gaels' Toby Conklin 6-1, 6-1 while Disponzio disposed of Sue Lebo 6-1, 6-3. Vicki Dunham and Eileen Gallocher each had leads in their matches but did not finish as the match was called due to the Iona forfeit in sixth singles that gave Siena the win.

"It was a great victory for these kids and the Siena program," Interim head coach Bloomberg concluded. "We had had some `internal problems' among the team members earlier in the day that could have affected our play this evening. Fortunately, reason was brought to the conflict by junior co-captain Colleen Brady. She put it all in perspective for the team members and got them to put their differences aside and work for the good of the team."

The team competition was won by Loyola College who earned their third consecutive league title. Loyola's number one singles player Nancy Tunblacer was named the Most Outstanding Female Player.

First Round

Niagara - 6 Siena - 0

Singles

Winner Opponent Score

1. Milna Matijevic (NU) Nikki Mayer (SC) 6-7, 6-2, (10-6)

2.Colleen Willick (NU) Andrea Disponzio (SC) 5-7, 6-2 (11-9)

3. Colleen Caney (NU) Betsy Brookins (SC) 6-4, 6-3

4. Audra Majocha (NU) Jen Fahr (SC) 6-1, 6-0

5. Eileen Gallocher (SC) Mary Ann Schuth (NU) No Score 6. Tricia Hathaway (NU) Anne Burak (SC) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles

Winner Opponent Score

1. Mayer/Disponzio (SC) Matijevic/Majocha (NU) 8-5

2. Willick/Caney (NU) Dunham/Brookins (SC) 8-6

3. Schuth/Hathaway (NU) Gallocher/Burak (SC) 8-6

Consolation Semi-Finals

Siena - 5 Fairfield - 2

Singles

Winner Opponent Score

1. Nikki Mayer (SC) Kelley Di Maris (FU) 6-0, 6-1

2. Andrea Disponzio (SC) Krissy Fitzpatrick (FU) 6-1, 6-2

3. Annie Mullourssey (FU) Betsy Brookins (SC) 6-4, 4-6 (10-3)

4. Vicky Dunham (SC) Kristy Goldin (FU) 6-3, 6-2

5. Eileen Gallocher (SC) Alyssa Haddas (FU) 3-6, 7-5 (10-8) 6. Anne Burak (SC) Krysta Henderson (FU) 3-6, 6-4 (10-2)

Doubles

Winner Opponent Score

1. Di Maris/Fitzpatrick (FU) Mayer/Disponzio (SC) 9-7

2. Mullourssey/Golden (FU) Dunham/Brookins (SC) 8-5

3. Gallocher/Burak (SC) Haddas/Maher (FU) No Score

Consolation Finals

Siena - 4 Iona - 3

Singles

Winner Opponent Score

1. Nikki Mayer (SC) Tobe Conklin (IC) 6-1, 6-1

2. Andrea Disponzio (SC) Sue Leabo (IC) 6-1, 6-3

3. Betsy Brookins (SC) Heather Brown (IC) 6-0, 6-0

4. Vicky Dunham (SC) Erin Muldon (IC) No Score

5. Eileen Gallocher (SC) Kara Phillips (IC) 6-0, 4-0 6. Anne Burak (SC) Default Siena Win

Doubles

Winner Opponent Score

1. Conklin/Brown (IC) Mayer/Disponzio (SC) 8-7

2. Dunham/Brookins (SC) Leabo/Muldon (IC) 8-3

3. Gallocher/Burak (SC) Default Siena Win