2009-10 Manhattan College Women's Tennis Media Guide

SEPTEMBER 11-13 at NJIT Invitational 12 p.m.

23 MONMOUTH 4:30 p.m.

27 at Fordham 1 p.m.

OCTOBER 10 HOFSTRA 12 p.m.

12 at Saint Joseph’s 12 p.m.

17 RIDER*^ 12 p.m.

23-26 ITA Regionals (at Yale)

FEBRUARY 7 at Navy 10:30 a.m.

27 vs. Temple# TBA

28 at Army TBA

MARCH 26 LOYOLA* 3 p.m.

27 SIENA* 12 p.m.

30 MARIST* 4 p.m.

31 SAINT PETER’S* 4 p.m.

APRIL 5 at NJIT TBA

8 at Fairfield* 3 p.m.

10 ALBANY 12 p.m.

11 BRYANT 12 p.m.

17 at Niagara* 4:30 p.m.

18 at St. Bonaventure 12 p.m.

23-25 MAAC Championships (at USTA National Tennis Center)

Home matches in CAPS played at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

*-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match

#-at West Point, N.Y.

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2010 SEASON PREVIEWIf you had to describe the 2009-10 Manhattan

College women’s tennis team in just one word, that word would be young. The Lady Jaspers roster consists of just three seasons of collegiate experience, and there’s not a single senior on the squad. In fact, half the roster is freshmen, and those three will all be expected to fill major roles in 2010.

Sophomore co-captains Hilary Valenzuela and Christina Ton are the only members of the 2009-10 team who saw significant action last season. Valenzuela posted a 9-7 dual match record last season, playing primarily at No. 3 singles. Against Loyola in the 2009 MAAC Quarterfinals, Valenzuela won both her singles and doubles matches, accounting for Manhattan’s only victories in the 6-1 loss. Ton played mostly at No. 6 singles last season, but will likely move up in the lineup this year. She went 10-5 in doubles play with partner Lindsey Keeler in 2008-09.

Junior Nora Hulton Sacchi is back for her first full campaign in a Manhattan uniform after joining the team in the spring semester last season. Hulton Sacchi was a member of the 2008-09 MAAC All-Academic Team, and the experience she gained last season will be valuable as she plays a more significant role this year.

The freshman stepping into the biggest spot is Lili Johnson, who takes over the No. 1 singles position from the departed Keeler. A Tulsa, Okla., native, Johnson was the top ranked high school player in Oklahoma and led Booker T. Washington High School to a state championship.

“It’s great to have a top 100 nationally ranked player join our program,” fourth-year Head Coach Scott Blumberg said. “Lili should help solidify the top of our lineup immediately.”

Also in the freshman class are Christina Puleo and

Stephanie Tsao. Puleo joins the Lady Jaspers from Leonia High School in Leonia, N.J., where she had a 23-0 singles record and earned team MVP honors. Tsao, a native of Scarsdale, N.Y., played six years of varsity tennis and earned all-league honors twice at Yonkers High School.

“I believe this is one of the strongest recruiting classes we’ve had at Manhattan,” Blumberg said. “Bringing in a nationally ranked player like Lili Johnson provides a tremendous amount of depth to the top of our lineup. We’ve also succeeded in adding quality depth throughout the entire lineup, which should help us be very competitive this season.”

After finishing sixth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) last

season, Manhattan was picked fifth in the MAAC Preseason Poll. Manhattan’s fall schedule includes a pair of home matches at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, as well as a matchup at local rival Fordham on Oct. 4. The Lady Jaspers kick off the spring season with a visit to 2009 NCAA Tournament participant Army on Feb. 27, then have nearly a month off before playing six of their seven MAAC matches within a two-

week span. Manhattan hosts four consecutive conference matches within a week (March 24-30), while also visiting Saint Peter’s (March 31) and Fairfield (April 8). The Lady Jaspers conclude their home schedule against Albany and Bryant on April 10-11 before wrapping up the regular season in Buffalo. Manhattan visits St. Bonaventure on April 17, then plays MAAC rival Niagara in its regular season finale on April 18.

Once again, the MAAC Tournament will be played on the Lady Jaspers’ home court, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The winner of the eight-team event, which runs from April 23-25, earns the MAAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

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ROSTERName Cl. Ht. Hometown/High School

Hulton Sacchi, Nora Jr. 5-7 Rome, Italy/Liceo Statale Virgilio

Johnson, Lili Fr. 5-5 Tulsa, Okla./Booker T. Washington

Puleo, Christina Fr. 5-7 Leonia, N.J./Leonia

Ton, Christina So. 5-1 Milipitas, Calif./Archbishop Mitty

Tsao, Stephanie Fr. 5-8 Scarsdale, N.Y./Yonkers

Valenzuela, Hilary So. 5-4 Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain

HEAD COACH

Scott Blumberg (South Florida ’82), 4th Season


SCOTT BLUMBERGHead Coach • 4th Season • South Florida ‘82

Now in his fourth season as head coach of the women’s tennis program, Scott Blumberg came to Riverdale with an accomplished background in tennis and in the field of education. Blumberg is currently the Dean of Students at P.S. 93 in the Bronx, and has worked for the New York City Board of Education for 20 years. He attended the University of South Florida, where he was a standout member of the Bulls’ tennis team and earned a B.A. in Health Education. Upon

graduating from South Florida, Blumberg played on the professional tour for several years. He has also held several different national and sectional rankings over the years. Before coming to Manhattan College, Blumberg was a tennis pro at Club Fit at Jefferson Valley and the director of tennis at Twin Oaks Swim and Tennis Club in Chappaqua, N.Y.


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2008-09: Saw action mostly at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles…Went 4-9 at No. 6 singles, including back-to-back wins against Fordham (Sept. 21) and Wagner (Sept. 22)…Posted a 10-5 mark, including a 5-2 MAAC record, with Lindsey Keeler at No. 3 doubles…Won first three matches, and five out of first six, after being paired with Keeler…Tallied five straight doubles wins to open the MAAC season.

BEFORE MANHATTAN: Played No. 1 doubles at Archbishop Mitty High School…Earned second team all-league honors in 2007 and honorable mention recognition in 2008 while leading Archbishop Mitty to back-to-back league titles…Attended St. Lawrence Academy for two seasons, earning team MVP honors twice…Went undefeated at No. 1 singles for St. Lawrence.

CHRISTINA TON5-1 • Sophomore • Milipitas, Calif.—Archbishop Mitty

2008-09: Posted a 9-7 singles record in dual matches, including a 4-3 mark in the MAAC…Went 7-6 at No. 3 singles and 2-1 at No. 2 singles…Won the first two matches she played at No. 2 singles (Sept. 22 at Wagner, April 2 vs. Rider)…Tallied four consecutive singles wins from March 21-April 2, all against MAAC opponents…Went 10-7 overall and 4-3 in the MAAC with Casey Conklin at No. 2 doubles…Also played four doubles matches with Lindsey Keeler, going 2-2…Recorded a win in both singles and doubles in the same dual match eight times…Picked up Manhattan’s only two match victories in a 6-1 loss to Loyola in the MAAC Tournament (April 17), posting a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles and a 9-8 triumph with Conklin at No. 2 doubles.

BEFORE MANHATTAN: Played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles at Red Mountain High School…Named team MVP and first team all-region all four years…Led Red Mountain to the 2005 state team championship…Finished third in the state doubles tournament in 2006 and 2008…Earned the No. 14 ranking in the Southwest Section and reached a high of No. 232 in the national 18-under rankings…A member of the National Honor Society.

HILARY VALENZUELA5-4 • Sophomore • Mesa, Ariz.—Red Mountain

PERSONAL: Daughter of Nghia and Melissa Ton...Has one sister, Stefanie, and one brother, Andrew, both of whom also play tennis…Has participated in the Relay for Life…Majoring in communication…Born on February 10, 1990.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Antoinette Richter...Has one brother, Tanner…Majoring in communication…Born on March 8, 1990.


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2008-09: Selected to the MAAC All-Academic Team…Made collegiate debut against Niagara on Feb. 22.Before Manhattan: Attended Liceo Statale Virgilio in Rome…Participated in the Emilia de Vialar tennis academy in Rome.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Elizabeth Hulton and Giuseppe Sacchi...Double majoring in psychology and Spanish…Born on October 15, 1988.

NORA HULTON SACCHI5-7 • Junior • Rome, Italy—Liceo Statale Virgilio

BEFORE MANHATTAN: Won four varsity letters at Booker T. Washington High School, playing mostly at No. 1 and No. 2 singles…Led Booker T. Washington to the state championship as a sophomore after a state runner-up finish during her freshman campaign…Held the No. 1 ranking among Oklahoma high school players…Played No. 1 singles on the Missouri Valley intersectional team.

PERSONAL: Daughter of John and Victoria Johnson…Brother, Milo, played tennis at Virginia…Has another brother, Axel…Born on March 24, 1991.

LILI JOHNSON5-5 • Freshman • Tulsa, Okla.—Booker T. Washington



BEFORE MANHATTAN: Went 23-0 in singles and earned team MVP honors at Leonia High School in 2008…Won the BCWCA championship at No. 2 singles that season…Earned three all-league selections…Also played softball and ran track.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Sal and Fran Puleo…Brother, Phillip, also attends Manhattan…Also has two sisters, Masina and Elaine…Enjoys playing the piano…Born on January 8, 1991.

CHRISTINA PULEO5-7 • Freshman • Leonia, N.J.—Leonia

BEFORE MANHATTAN: Played six years of varsity tennis at Yonkers High School…Twice selected to the all-league team and won the Bulldog Award as a senior…Named a scholar-athlete four times and was the Yonkers recipient of the Wendy’s High School Heisman in 2008…Took second place in the open adult version of the inaugural Yonkers City Mayor Cup…Won a gold medal with the Hudson Valley squad at the 2008 Empire State Games…Also played softball and ran track…Selected Best Offensive Player on the softball team as a senior.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Percy and Grace Tsao…Has two brothers, Duke and Kevin…Majoring in engineering with plans to become a computer software designer…Born on October 29, 1991.

STEPHANIE TSAO5-8 • Freshman • Scarsdale, N.Y.—Yonkers



SINGLES No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 Total

Lindsey Keeler 6-11 6-11

Morgan MacTaggart 0-14 0-2 0-16

Hilary Valenzuela 2-1 7-6 9-7

Lindsey Spagnola 1-1 0-1 0-1 1-3

Casey Conklin 9-7 9-7

Christine Krasinski 5-11 5-11

Christina Ton 4-9 4-9

Nicole Mazza 1-0 0-2 1-2

DOUBLES No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 Total

MacTaggart/Spagnola 0-8 0-8

Krasinski/MacTaggart 0-4 0-4

Keeler/MacTaggart 0-3 0-3

Krasinski/Spagnola 1-0 0-1 1-1

MacTaggart/Mazza 0-1 0-1

Conklin/Valenzuela 9-6 9-6

Keeler/Valenzuela 1-0 1-0

Conklin/Krasinski 1-0 1-0

Keeler/Ton 9-4 9-4

Spagnola/Ton 0-1 0-1

Krasinski/Ton 0-1 0-1

2009 STATISTICS


With 10 institutions strongly bound by the sound prin-ciples of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is in its 29th year of competi-tion during the 2009-2010 academic year.

The MAAC was founded in 1980 by six charter members: the U.S. Military Academy, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Iona Col-lege, Manhattan College and Saint Peter’s College. Com-petition followed one year later in the fall of 1981 with members competing in the sports of men’s cross country and men’s soccer. On Janu-ary 2, 1982, Army traveled to Iona for the first MAAC men’s basketball game and the MAAC story had begun.

Today, Conference mem-bers include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Loyola University Maryland, Manhattan College, Marist College, Niagara University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s College, and Siena College. In addition, associate members the University of Detroit Mercy, Mount St. Mary’s University, Saint Joseph’s University, Virginia Military Institute and Wagner College compete in men’s lacrosse. St. Francis (N.Y.) College, Villanova University and Wagner College are all associate members of the MAAC Women’s Water Polo League. Drake University and Sacred Heart University compete in women’s rowing, while the University at Albany, Boston University and the University of Hartford begin competition in women’s golf this season. The MAAC will support 24 sports and championships during the 2009-2010 academic year.

The MAAC Basketball Championships return to the Times Union Center in Albany, New York, for 2010, with Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard preparing to host the 2011 championship. By having an excellent working relationship with various facilities, the MAAC has been able to attract a number of NCAA Championship events. Most recently, the MAAC, Canisius College and Niagara University suc-cessfully hosted the 2004 and 2007 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. All three parties will host that event again in 2010. The MAAC and Rider University co-hosted the 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Regional at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, N.J., after recording the third highest attendance figure for the women’s championship with the First and Second Rounds in 2006.

MAAC ASSOCIATE SPORTSIn June of 1995, the MAAC continued to develop opportunities

for student-athletes as the conference announced the formation of the MAAC Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse Leagues. The men’s league began competition in the spring of 1996, while the women’s league commenced in the spring of 1997. The men’s league consists of four MAAC schools -- Canisius, Manhattan, Marist, and Siena – and five associate members – Detroit Mercy, Mount St. Mary’s, Saint Joseph’s, Virginia Military Institute and Wagner. The women’s league consists of MAAC institutions Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Manhattan, Marist, Niagara and Siena.

In 2002, the MAAC added the MAAC Women’s Water Polo League. The league is made up of three MAAC schools – Iona, Marist and Siena – as well as three associate members, St. Francis (N.Y.), Villanova and Wagner.

Sacred Heart started participating in MAAC Women’s Rowing in the spring of 2008. Drake University will also join the league for the 2010 MAAC Championship.

In the summer of 2009, the MAAC added three associate members – Albany, Boston University and Hartford – to women’s golf, with the programs starting competi-tion against MAAC members Fairfield, Niagara and Siena in 2009-2010.

ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS

The MAAC prides itself on the accomplishments of its stu-dent-athletes in the classroom, as well as on the field. Mary Beth Riley, a 1991 graduate of Canisius, was the first recipient of the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. In the fall of 1998, Erin Whalen, a member of the Iona women’s rowing team, was awarded one of the na-tion’s 32 Rhodes Scholarships

for academic achievement and civic leadership. Jose Vargas, a Loyola student, was also awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in 1999.

First-class facilities are the rule with MAAC schools, as teams regu-larly play in top-notch arenas, such as Madison Square Garden, the IZOD Center, HSBC Arena, Times Union Center, the Arena at Harbor Yard and Sovereign Bank Arena. The other MAAC championships boast their share of outstanding locales as well, such as the fabled Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, where the cross country champion-ships are contested, and Waterfront Park in Trenton, home of the 2008 and 2009 MAAC Baseball Championship. This year, the MAAC will take its women’s soccer championship to Orlando, Florida, where it will conduct its post-season championships at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. In 2010, the MAAC Volleyball Championship will be at Walt Disney World. The MAAC Men’s and Women’s Golf Cham-pionships will be held at Celebration Golf Club, located in Celebra-tion, Florida, for the second consecutive year.

In the past several years, a number of the MAAC schools have also enjoyed success in NCAA Championships. MAAC schools have made a total of 74 NIT appearances and 43 NCAA appearances. In addition, Rider represented the league last season in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The MAAC currently possesses 13 automatic bids to NCAA Championships in men’s and women’s basketball, base-ball, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and women’s water polo. In 2007, the Marist women’s basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to the eventual National Champion, the University of Tennessee. Last fall, the Iona men’s cross country team earned a second-place finish for the second straight year at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Canisius softball, Manhattan track, Manhattan and Marist baseball and Loyola soccer and lacrosse have also flourished on the national stage.

The MAAC has also been a leader in the forefront of technology, expanding the notoriety of the league into cyberspace. In 2007, the league reached an agreement with JumpTV, Inc. to sponsor the MAAC web page. Launched in November 1999, www.maacsports.com has been a great success, providing fans with up-to-date contest results, multimedia content and an online merchandise store.

The MAAC President for the 2009-2010 academic year is Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., the President of Loyola University Maryland. The Vice-President is Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., the President of Fairfield University. Bob Byrnes, Director of Athletics at Manhattan College, will chair the Committee on Athletic Administration, and Elizabeth Donohue, Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator at Marist College will serve as Vice Chair.

METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

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A 1968 Manhattan graduate, Byrnes is now in his 22nd year as the College’s director of athletics.

Since he arrived back in Riverdale in May of 1988, Byrnes has presided over a renaissance period in Manhattan College athletics. The men’s and women’s bas-ketball programs have earned eight NCAA Tournament bids during his tenure. In addition to eight NCAA appearances (four women, four men), the Jaspers have made five post-season and four pre-season NIT appearances. Women’s soccer and men’s and women’s lacrosse began competition at the Division I level under Byrnes, and 14 different teams have won conference championships (men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor track, men’s and women’s outdoor track, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, baseball, softball and volleyball). In addition, to date, 24 Manhattan student-athletes have received All-America honors for both their athletic and academic achievements.

Before returning to Manhattan, Byrnes spent 13 years with the Morrison-Knudsen Company, one of the largest engineering and construction firms in the nation. A native of Garrison, New York, Byrnes earned his undergraduate degree in physical education with a minor in biology. He also holds an M.B.A from City University in Seattle, Washington.

Dr. Brennan O’Donnell is the 19th president of Manhattan College, having assumed the responsibilities of the position July 1, 2009.

Dr. O’Donnell comes to Manhattan from Fordham College at Rose Hill, Ford-ham University’s oldest and largest school. As dean of Fordham College, he was the chief academic officer of a College of Arts and Sciences enrolling about 3,200 students under a faculty of more than 200.

Before coming to New York, Dr. O’Donnell spent 17 years at Loyola College in Maryland (now Loyola University Maryland), where he served as a profes-sor of English and, from 1999-2004, as director of the university-wide Honors Program. An active scholar, his teaching and research interests focus mainly upon poetry, especially of the British Romantic period, and on religion and lit-erature, particularly contemporary American Catholic writers. He has authored two books on the poetry of William Wordsworth and co-edited The Work of Andre Dubus, a collection of essays published as a double issue of Religion and the Arts. In addition, Dr. O’Donnell has published articles, essays and reviews in some of the leading journals in his field. At Manhattan, he will continue to hold a faculty appointment, as he had at Fordham and Loyola, as professor of English.

As the first president of the College not to be a member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Dr. O’Donnell is treading new ground at Manhattan College. He has experience in such transitions, however, as he was also the first layperson to serve as dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill. His publications and lectures demonstrate a keen engagement in issues of faith and education, specifically Catholic higher education. From 1994–2000, he served as editor of the national magazine Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education, and he was a

Byrnes’ Manhattan College athletic career included service to the Jaspers’ club football squad, where he served as a captain and performed as both a de-fensive tackle and offensive end. He was an assistant coach in 1969 and helped lead the Jaspers to a 6-2 season. Upon graduation, Byrnes began a teaching and coaching career at Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington, New Jersey. He also served as the school’s director of athletics from 1970 to 1973. Under his coaching leadership, Queen of Peace registered state tournament appearances in baseball and basketball, and captured the Parochial “B” State Championship in football (1972).

In addition to his responsibilities at Manhattan, Byrnes also served as presi-dent of the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association, the committee that makes the selections for the annual National Invitation Tournament (NIT) from 1997-1999. Currently, he is the chair of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Con-ference (MAAC) men’s basketball committee and the committee on athletic administration. He is also a member of the ECAC Officials Negotiating Commit-tee and the 1999-00 NCAA Championship Cabinet.

Byrnes resides in Croton-on-Hudon, N.Y., along with his wife Rosemary. He is the father of five children: Bob, Carolyn (Manhattan, ’97), Brian (Manhattan, ’99), Darren, and Brigid.

member of the National Seminar on Jesuit Higher Education from 1993–2000. In addition, he has served as a board member for the Lilly Fellows Program and for Collegium, a consortium of Catholic universities that strives to strengthen faculty understanding of and participation in the mission of Catholic higher education.

A native of Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley, Dr. O’Donnell earned his B.A. with highest distinction and Honors in English at The Pennsylvania State Uni-versity in 1981, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in English and American Literature and Language. He is the recipient of numerous fellow-ships, grants, awards and honors.

Dr. O’Donnell is married to Angela O’Donnell (formerly Alaimo), a poet and writer who teaches at Fordham, where she serves as associate director of the Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies. The couple has three sons: Charles (a graduate of Saint John’s University, Minnesota, and a teacher in the St. Paul, Minnesota, public schools), Patrick (a 2009 graduate of Columbia University, currently pursuing graduate studies in philosophy in Leuven, Belgium), and Will (a senior English major at Fordham).

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Documents

2009-10 Manhattan College Women's Tennis Media Guide