Blog Series Story #4

The TCNJ Lions Want a National Spotlight

By: Mark Barroso

EWING—The College of New Jersey women’s tennis team looks to gain national credibility in the spring. The Lions say persistent training and motivation will guide them to the top.

The TCNJ Lions are currently ranked #17 in the pre-season ITA Division III women’s tennis rankings (last updated on November 3^rd, 2010).

The Lions have a 136-game winning streak against New Jersey Athletic Conference competitors and have won 28 consecutive NJAC Championships.

The perfect play of the Lions in the NJAC is practice for the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Lions have their own opinions about winning a national championship.

“If the team works hard like they do with no injuries, we could make a good run at it, said 11^th year head coach Scott Dicheck. “We fell a little short last spring; you just have to have a little bit of luck on your side.”

“I look forward to spring season because it is more competitive,” said junior captain Felice Trinh.

Trinh earned NCAA All-America honors as a sophomore in 2009 while finishing second at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Small College Championship. Trinh, along with superstar alumnus Jackie Shtemberg, went undefeated to win the 2009 ITA Northeastern Regional Championship. Trinh was also named NJAC Rookie of the Year in the fall of 2009.

Trinh and co-captain/classmate, Emily Petersack, have NCAA tournament experience.

They both reached the second round of the 2009 NCAA Division III national tournament, with Trinh in singles and Petersack in doubles. In the spring of 2010, Trinh reached the third round of the tournament in singles. Petersack won in the third round, but the team was eliminated and didn’t reach the quarterfinals.

Shtemberg’s graduation had an effect on her current housemate, Trinh.

“At first, we were definitely sad and upset about it. She has left us with so much ability to be motivated,” said Trinh. “She comes out whenever she can.”

The Lions want another taste at NCAA greatness, this time without Shtemberg.

“We have a strong team,” said sophomore All-American Allison Tierney. “If everyone is healthy and playing their best, I think we have a shot at it (national championship).”

Tierney and classmate Karisse Bendijo earned All-America honors for placing third in the 2010 USTA/ITA Small College Championships in Alabama. Bendijo also earned 2010 All-America honors in singles.

To win a national championship, the Lions will have to input maximum effort, which includes a playlist of songs.

“Felice and I have a warm-up mix to play before matches and get everyone pumped up,” said Petersack.

 “I’m really expecting us to do well, said Felice Trinh. “I am hoping for a successful season.”

The only three schools to win Division III National Championships since 2001 are Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia and Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Williams College Ephs have been champions since 2008.

Since the Lions are such a young team, the freshmen will have to step it up in the spring if they are seriously considering making Division III “noise.” After spring play, recruiting becomes a main goal. Dicheck makes sure recruits are treated properly.

“Our team members do tours,” said Trinh. “Coach has asked the girls to give them (recruits) tours. We get to meet so many new people.”

As for preseason training, it is most difficult in the spring. The balancing of practice and academics becomes challenging.

The Lions must “go to the gym and keep practicing” to win a national championship, said Petersack. “Our team is so close and so motivated together. We have the same goals for every match and I think we all want to get to nationals and have a successful season.”

 “We definitely work the hardest during the spring preseason,” said Trinh. “As the season goes on, we all motivate each other to go to the gym and go hit. We do what works best for everyone’s class schedules.”

Contact: barroso2@tcnj.edu

Blog Series Story #3

Youth Prevails on TCNJ’s Women’s Tennis Team

By: Mark Barroso

EWING—The College of New Jersey women’s tennis team has been successful due to a determined young core and improved training regimen.

There are currently two juniors, five sophomores, three freshmen and no seniors on the team. Many athletes see the elders on their team as role-models. On the Lions squad, the juniors set the precedent while the underclassmen take notes.

This young team has contributed to a 136-game winning streak in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, and 28 consecutive NJAC championships.

“The biggest thing we do is recruiting,” said 11^th year head coach Scott Dicheck. “Every recruit comes in and we tell them the success we have had here. We tell them that they can play year round.”

“Coach is recruiting players all year,” said sophomore Allison Tierney. “My freshman year he brought in four starters.”

Two Lions have been recognized nationally for their athletic abilities.

Tierney and classmate Karisse Bendijo earned All-America honors for placing third in the 2010 United States Tennis Association/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Small College Championships in Alabama. Bendijo also earned 2010 All-America honors in singles.

Half of the team has been awarded with NJAC honors.

Bendijo was named the 2010 NJAC women’s tennis player of the year. Bendijo was NJAC player of the week four times in 2010, and once in 2009. Tierney was NJAC player of the week once in 2010.

Bendijo also touts two NJAC rookie of the week awards in 2009 while classmate Lauren Balsamo was named rookie of the week once in the same year.

Bendijo, Tierney, fellow sophomore Paige Aeillo, and junior captain Emily Petersack were named 1^st Team All-NJAC in singles for the 2010 season. Balsamo and Aeillo along with Tierney and Bendijo earned 1^st Team All League honors in doubles.

The duo of Tierney and Bendijo earned 1^st Team All NJAC Honors as freshmen.

As for the current freshman class, Petersack spoke via phone interview about freshman standout Tara Criscuolo, who earned the title of NJAC rookie of the week once in 2010 and finished the season with 13 combined wins.

“Tara is the most crucial freshman and she works really hard,” said Petersack. “After playing for hours at regionals in New York, she was in the hotel gym working out. She doesn’t give up.”

Petersack has over 50 combined wins. In the fall of 2008, Petersack competed in the ITA regional championship. She reached the quarterfinals of the ITA regionals with classmate Felice Trinh in 2010 and Balsamo in 2009. She also won in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in the spring of 2009.

The NJAC-dominant Lions look to improve their abilities as soon as possible in order to improve their national credentials. According to the Lions, the workouts will continue.

However, improving players’ performances can be difficult, especially throughout the course of a year. There are many issues to deal with during a college year such as housing, academics, and social lives.

“There are a lot of distractions, so we want players that will show passion and commitment,” said Dicheck. “They learn from the upperclassmen.”

Athletes show passion and commitment through their play. The increase in difficulty of the 2010 preseason training regimen in comparison to the 2009 and 2008 programs is a big factor for improvement. Another factor, which is common in college sports, is the establishment of players’ organized practices.

 “Preseason this year was harder than last year. There were more double sessions, running, and track workouts,” said Tierney. “There is no mandatory practice from October to January, but there still are practices that the players organize.”

Petersack described the change in routine.

“My freshman year we just ran the loop (1.74 mile road that encircles TCNJ’s campus) a few times,” said Petersack. “The past two years we had a specific training program given to us by a trainer from the Pennington/Ewing Athletics Club. We will get workout sheets before we go on Christmas break.”

Blog Series Story #2

The TCNJ Lions Follow Shtemberg’s Footsteps.

By: Mark Barroso

EWING— The members of the College of New Jersey women’s tennis team had big tennis shoes to fill after senior Jackie Shtemberg graduated in the spring of 2010.

Shtemberg, a four-time All American, was a dominant force in Division III women’s tennis.

She was the leader of the Lions both on and off the court.

“She really became a leader senior year,” said head coach Scott Dicheck, who is in his 11^th year of service. “She was a big part of making the transition for the younger players.”

The transition from a high school tennis athlete to a college player on a team that has a 136-game New Jersey Athletic Conference winning streak can be difficult.

“It was really good playing with her. She is a great role model on and off the court,” said sophomore Lauren Balsamo.

Shtemberg too was once a freshman, learning the path to success. Shtemberg started winning early, earning her first All-America honors in doubles for placing sixth in the 2006 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national doubles championships in Fort Myers, Florida.

She also won the 2006 ITA northeast singles championship which earned her All-America honors in singles competition.

To cap off her phenomenal freshman year, Shtemberg was named both the NJAC women’s tennis player and rookie of the year for the 2006 season. She was also a five-time NJAC rookie of the week selection.

In 2007, Shtemberg made TCNJ athletic history after she became the first female student-athlete from TCNJ to win the ITA National Championship.

Her other 2007 accolades include being named 2007 ITA northeast rookie of the year, competing in the second round of the NCAA singles championships, becoming ITA northeast singles champion again, and being named the 2007 NJAC women’s tennis player of the year.

Shtemberg entered the spring of 2008 ranked first regionally in singles. In April, she broke her finger.

This injury would prevent her from competing in the 2008 NCAA championships. She decided to study abroad in the fall.

Next, came her senior year and her last chance to win a national Division III tournament.

“I have always looked forward to this tournament and to me winning it would be the biggest accomplishment of my career,” said Shtemberg. “This tournament is challenging enough as it is with just singles, I've never competed in such a big tournament in both singles and doubles at this level of competition.”

Shtemberg and sophomore Felice Trinh won the doubles title at the 2009 ITA northeast regional. The pair put up numbers that wound up being one of the best doubles finishes in program history.

Shtemberg advanced to the final four competitors of the 2009 NCAA singles championship. In doubles, she along with Trinh, were eliminated at the start of the tournament.

The awards Shtemberg received as a senior were All-NJAC first team in singles and doubles and 2009 NJAC player of the year.

Shtemberg finished her career third all-time in singles career wins with 92. She finished second in doubles career wins with 81. She finished second in doubles teammate career wins with 45. She is third on the all-time list for combined single and doubles career wins with 173.

Shtemberg’s exceptional displays of athletic ability and character have rubbed off on the younger Lions.

“Our sophomore class had a tremendous freshmen year,” said Dicheck. “They had as good of a first year of any class that I have seen.” 

With no seniors on the team, the youth have learned from Shtemberg and applied her teachings on the court.

 “She was a big leader on our team. She always motivated us,” said sophomore Allison Tierney, who also earned All-America honors as a freshman.

The Lions haven’t had much trouble following in her footsteps. They made it 28 straight NJAC championships this past fall and had several young players earn All-NJAC honors.

“What happened was, we still were successful without her,” said Dicheck. “We have been going in the right direction from day one.”