Since its founding in 1855, William Paterson University has grown to become a compre- hensive regional institution committed to academic excellence and student success. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, it offers 32 undergraduate and 19 graduate degree programs as well as professional development programs through its five colleges: Arts and Communication, Christos M. Cotsakos College of Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health. Nearly 11,500 full- and part-time students from a diversity of backgrounds are enrolled at the University. Occupying a 370-acre, wooded campus, the University is located in the hills of suburban Wayne, New Jersey, within an hour of the ocean, the mountains, the Meadowlands, and New York City. William Paterson offers a wide variety of student activities, modern on-campus housing, and the most up-to-date educational facilities. Financial aid is available to qualified students. William Paterson also offers 18 NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic programs, many of which have competed for national championships. Last spring, the Pioneer softball team was one of eight teams to reach the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Finals in Raleigh, NC. The Pioneer baseball team captured national crowns in 1992 and 1996, while men’s basketball reached the NCAA Division III tournament title game in 2001 with national player of the year Horace Jenkins, who eventually went on to play overseas and for the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, leading the way. Life at William Paterson University can be exciting and challenging. To make arrangements to visit the University or for more information about our programs, telephone the Office of Admissions at 973.720.2125 or write to William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ 07470-2103. Junior Alima Williams William Paterson University 2005 Women’s Tennis Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS University Information .................... Inside Front Cover Fast Facts ............................................................... 2 2005 Preview/Roster .............................................. 3 Head Coach Sandy Ross ......................................... 4 Pioneer Profiles ....................................................... 5 2004 in Review ...................................................... 7 Pioneer History ....................................................... 8 Athletic Hall of Fame....................... Inside Back Cover For further women’s tennis information ... For further information on the William Paterson women’s tennis program, please check out the team’s Web site at: www.wpunj.edu/athletics/tennis Front cover: Elaine Tan (top), Aileen Valente (bottom left) and Evonne Tan (bottom right). Back Cover: Alima Williams The 2005 William Paterson University Women’s Tennis Guide was produced by the Department of Sports Information. Photography courtesy of Steven R. Smith and Joseph Camporeale. FAST FACTS UNIVERSITY INFORMATION Location ............................300 Pompton Road, Wayne, NJ, 07470 Founded .............................................................................. 1855 Enrollment ......................................................................... 11,500 President .................................................................. Arnold Speert Vice President for Administration and Finance ............. Steve Bolyai Vice President for Institutional Advancement .............. Sandra Deller Vice President for Student Development ..................... John Martone Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs ....................Steve Hahn Director of Athletics ................................................. Sabrina Grant Associate Director of Athletics/Baseball Coach ............... Jeff Albies Associate Director of Athletics .................................... Cindy Cohen Nickname ........................................................................ Pioneers Colors ............................................................... Orange and Black Affiliation ............................................... NCAA Division III, ECAC Conference ................................... New Jersey Athletic Conference WOMEN’S TENNIS FAST FACTS 2004 Record ......................................................... 4-5 (2-4 NJAC) Home Court ....................................................... Wightman Courts Head Coach ............................................ Sandy Ross (first season) Women’s Tennis Office Number .............................. 973-720-2356 DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS INFORMATION Director of Sports Information ............................... Brian Falzarano Falzarano’s E-Mail ..................................... [email protected] Assistant Director of Sports Information .......................... Jim Henry Sports Information Office Number .......................... 973-720-2705 Sports Information Fax Number .............................. 973-720-3017 Athletics Web Site ................................. www.wpunj.edu/athletics/ Pioneer Hotline ....................................................... 973-720-2547 2 2005 WOMEN’S TENNIS 2005 PREVIEW In its second intercollegiate season since the program was restarted last fall, the William Paterson tennis program will look to build upon last season’s strong effort. The Pioneers went 4-5 (2-4 New Jersey Athletic Conference) and won three of their final five contests. This season, William Paterson has a deeper team, with 12 players who will give the squad skill and depth at all six singles spots and on each of the three doubles teams. “There is definitely talent to work with here. We have four players back, and they all experienced some success last year,” said first-year coach Sandy Ross. “I think that our numbers will give us a chance to give everyone a chance to play in matches and will also give us a high level of competition everyday in practice, which can only make us better.” The first three singles positions will likely be occupied by juniors Aileen Valente and Evonne Tan and sophomore Elaine Tan. Evonne and Elaine Tan alternated at first singles for much of last season. Meanwhile, Elaine Tan captured the NJAIAW Flight A Consolation championship by defeating players from Division I, II and III schools. Others competing to play at singles are highly touted freshman Ashley Penambere (Kearny High School), senior Jenny Ajjan and juniors Alima Williams and Meghan Ludgate. At doubles, Williams and Evonne Tan will likely play first doubles after occupying the second doubles spot a year ago. Others who will compete for doubles action include Ludgate, senior Anita Correa, sophomores Caitlin Grogaard and Jamie Mariano, and freshmen Jennilyn Gaela (Passaic) and Lauren Medow (Fair Lawn). 2005 ROSTER NAME YR HT Hometown/High School Jenny Ajjan SR 5-3 Lavallette, NJ/Monroe-Woodbury Anita Correa SR 5-3 Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton Twp. Jennilyn Gaela FR 5-3 Passaic, NJ/Passaic Caitlin Grogaard SO 5-8 Franklin, NJ/Wallkill Valley Meghan Ludgate JR 5-10 Palermo, NJ/Ocean City Jamie Mariano SO 5-1 Toms River, NJ/Manchester Twp. Lauren Medow FR 5-7 Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn Ashley Penambere FR 5-4 Kearny, NJ/Kearny Elaine Tan SO 5-1 Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley Evonne Tan JR 5-1 Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley Aileen Valente JR 5-1 Toms River, NJ/Toms River East Alima Williams JR 5-7 Somerdale, NJ/Sterling Regional 2005 WOMEN’S TENNIS 3 HEAD COACH SANDY ROSS Head Coach SANDY ROSS First Season B.A in Physical Education and Health William Paterson University ‘71 M.A. in Physical Education Montclair State University ‘76 A veteran North Jersey high school coach and a member of William Paterson’s first varsity women’s tennis team in 1970, Ross has been entrusted to coach the Pioneers in their second season since the program was discontinued in 1989. Ross started the New Milford High School girls varsity and junior varsity tennis program in 1972 and coached the Knights on both levels from 1972-76 and 1978-84. She also helped the school field its first girls basketball, girls volleyball and softball teams in 1972 and was the head coach of the girls basketball, girls tennis, girls volleyball and softball squads from 1972-76. In addition, she was the first woman in Bergen County history to coach a boys tennis team when she took over New Milford’s boys varsity program in 1979. She was New Milford’s athletic director from1993-96 before serving as the vice principal (1996-2000) and principal (2000-03) at David E. Owens Middle School in New Milford. When she swung a racket for the Pioneers in1970 under Dr. Virginia Overdorf, Ross played second singles and first doubles while helping the Pioneers emerge as one of the state’s top tennis teams. She was a member of the first women’s swim team at the University in 1967 and also played field hockey (1969-70) and women’s basketball (1968-69) for the Pioneers. She resides in Ramsey. THE 2005 WILLIAM PATERSON PIONEERS Standing (from left): Jamie Mariano, Lauren Medow, Caitlin Grogaard, Alima Williams, Anita Correa and head coach Sandy Ross. Kneeling (from left): Jenny Ajjan, Elaine Tan, Aileen Valente, Evonne Tan and Ashley Penambere. Not Pictured: Meghan Ludgate and Jennilyn Gaela. 4 2005 WOMEN’S TENNIS PIONEER PROFILES JENNY AJJAN Senior ♦ 5-3 Lavallette, NJ/Monroe-Woodbury (NY) Major: Psychology ANITA CORREA Senior ♦ 5-3 Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton Major: Psychology MEGHAN LUDGATE Junior ♦ 5-10 Palermo, NJ/Ocean City Major: Mathematics EVONNE TAN Junior ♦ 5-1 Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley Major: Nursing AILEEN VALENTE Junior ♦ 5-1 Toms River,