For Immediate Release
(March 13, 2000)
Contact: Jamie Joss (315) 228-7566

Army Women’s Tennis Team 2000 Preseason Favorite

Bethlehem, PA -- In a vote of the League’s head coaches, the women’s tennis team from the United States Military Academy has been selected to win the 2000 Patriot League title.  The Cadets tallied four first-place votes for 22 total points and were followed closely by Colgate who had 19 points with two first-place votes.  Lehigh earned the No. 3 position with 17 points.  Lafayette (15 pts), Bucknell (12), and Holy Cross (5) complete the field.

Army, the 1999 defending champion, will be tough to beat as they return a trio of All-Patriot League singles performers in Jennifer Blatty (Metairie, LA), Melissa Sentelle (Brevard, NC), and Annie Weber (St. Charles, IL).  Weber was last season’s champion in the No. 1 flight of singles while Blatty, a three time All-Patriot League selection (1997-99), won the No. 2 flight and Sentelle won gold in the No. 5 singles.  Weber also teamed with Cheryl Hamilton (Diamond Bar, CA) last season to win the No. 1 doubles competition.  Weber and Hamilton both earned All-Patriot League accolades for their doubles play and were joined by Lillian Lein (Abilene, TX) who was awarded the same honor.

Other All-League performers returning to the court for 2000 are the Lehigh duo of Lauren DeCarlo (Washington, Twp., NJ) and Kim Luff (Bethlehem, PA).  Both earn honors in the singles category. Brooke Couch (Hanover, NH) of Colgate also returns as an All-Patriot League doubles performer from the ’99 season.

The 2000 Patriot League Women’s Team Championship will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30 at the United States Military Academy’s newly built Lichtenberg Tennis Center.

2000 Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rank Institution Pts
1. Army (4) 22
2. Colgate (2) 19
3. Lehigh 17
4. Lafayette 15
5. Bucknell 12
6. Holy Cross 5
(#) = First-place vote