(Posted October 11, 2005)

Huntingdon, PA - Juniata College freshmen tennis players Ashley Andrews (Altoona/Altoona) and Caroline Weisser (York Suburban/York) have both been named to the 2005 Commonwealth All-Conference Team as selected by the conferences seven head coaches. Andrews was one of seven players named to the first-team, while Weisser garnered second-team recognition. In addition, Andrews was selected as the Commonwealth Rookie of the Year. The All-Conference selections marked the first time since the 2001 season that Juniata has earned All-Conference honors in women's tennis.

Andrews made an immediate impact for Juniata in her first season, as she recorded an 8-3 record in singles competition. Playing each of her matches at the top spot in the Eagles' singles lineup, she was a perfect 5-0 in non-conference outings in 2005 and recorded a 3-3 record in conference matches. Each of her three singles losses came to players who were also selected as All-Conference performers, including the Commonwealth Player of the Year. She won all of her matches in straight sets, including a pair of 6-0, 6-0 wins during the year. Two of her three losses came after she rallied from a one-set deficit and forced a third set, and in each of those she fell in a third-set tiebreaker.

Weisser handled the second position in Juniata's singles lineup in her freshman year, and matched Andrews with an 8-3 record. Each of her eight victories came in straight sets, and in each win she did not allow an opponent to win more than three games in any set. Weisser was also boasted an unblemished 5-0 record in non-conference action, and had conference singles wins over Lebanon Valley, Albright and Susquehanna. Each of her three singles set-backs came against fellow members of the All-Conference Team. Weisser's eight wins was tied for the conference lead for wins at the second singles position.

Andrews and Weisser were both also teamed as Juniata's top doubles pairing, where they produced an impressive 9-2 record, including a 4-2 mark in conference play. After two early-season doubles set-backs the pair won its final seven matches to help claim more wins than any other doubles pairing in the conference.

With Andrews and Weisser as major contributors, Juniata claimed a 7-4 record in 2005, earning the most wins for a Juniata tennis team since the 1999 season. Juniata was a perfect 5-0 against non-conference competition and earned a pair of conference victories. The Eagles will also be sending its players, including Weisser and Andrews, to the MASCAC Individual Tennis Championships which will begin Saturday October 22.

###

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.