NYIT Tabbed as ECC Women's Tennis Favorite

Central Islip, N.Y. - The women's tennis coaches in the East Coast Conference have predicted a three-peat for the New York Institute of Technology, as the Bears top the conference's 2014 preseason poll. For the second straight season, senior Sara Burinato (Barcelona, Spain) of NYIT has been named the Preseason Player of the Year.

The Bears took six out of nine first place votes in the poll after a dominating 2013-14 season. NYIT was unblemished in ECC play with a perfect 8-0 mark during the regular season and followed by capturing a second straight ECC Championship in the postseason. The Bears' success continued into the NCAA Division II Tournament, as the squad advanced to the National Quarterfinals for the first time in program history and finished with a No. 11 national ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.

The Bears are well positioned for another successful campaign in 2014 with six returning players, including the ECC Preseason Player of the Year, Sara Burinato. Burinato, a three-time All-Conference First Team selection, posted a 22-9 singles record and a 26-8 mark in doubles play last season. She was nearly unbeatable in ECC action, going 7-0 in singles and 6-1 in doubles play. Her outstanding play was recognized nationally, as she climbed as high as the No. 21 spot in the ITA Division II singles rankings and finished the year ranked No. 45.

Queens College received two first place votes and 73 points to come in second in the preseason poll. The Knights, who have been ECC runner-up to NYIT the last two seasons, are fresh off their 14th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. With a record of 19-5 during the 2013-14 season, Queens also finished as the No. 39 ranked team in the ITA Division II poll. University of the District of Columbia rounds out the top three with 59 points, while the final first place vote went to 2013 ECC Tournament participant, LIU Post, who comes in at No. 5 in the poll.

2014 ECC Women’s Tennis Preseason Poll
School                                Pts.        2013-14 Record

1. NYIT (6)                           78          25-6 (8-0 ECC)

2. Queens (2)                       73          19-5 (7-1 ECC)

3. District of Columbia           59          8-8 (6-2 ECC)

4. Roberts Wesleyan            52          16-8 (5-3 ECC)

5. LIU Post (1)                      44          4-7 (4-4 ECC)

6. Molloy                             37           5-9 (2-6 ECC)

7. St. Thomas Aquinas         31           7-7 (3-5 ECC)

8. Daemen                           16           6-15 (1-7 ECC)

9. Dowling                            15           0-10 (0-8 ECC)

( ) – first place votes

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About the ECC

Founded as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1989 and rechristened the East Coast Conference in July 2006, the ECC was formed to enhance intercollegiate athletic competition among member institutions and to assist them in integrating athletics into their academic program in a fiscally sound way. The ECC is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship. Its mission is to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes, which stresses the abilities to excel in academic achievement, athletic competition, and positive character traits. East Coast Conference members include: University of Bridgeport (Bridgeport, Conn.); University of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.); Daemen College (Amherst, N.Y.); Dowling College (Oakdale, N.Y.); LIU Post (Brookville, N.Y.); Mercy College (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.); Molloy College (Rockville Centre, N.Y.); New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury, N.Y.); Queens College (Flushing, N.Y.); Roberts Wesleyan College (Rochester, N.Y.) and St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.). Associate Members include: Chestnut Hill College (Philadelphia, Pa.), Dominican College (Orangeburg, N.Y.), and Georgian Court University (Lakewood, N.J.).

The ECC sponsors the following championship sports: baseball; men’s and women’s basketball; men’s and women’s cross country; men’s and women’s lacrosse; softball; men’s and women’s tennis; men’s and women’s indoor track and field; men’s and women’s outdoor track and field; men’s and women’s soccer; and women’s volleyball.

The East Coast Conference is a proud member of the NCAA and Division II. Division II is a dynamic and engaging group of colleges, institutions and conferences of varying sizes and educational missions. Division II members encourage and support diversity; value sportsmanship, fairness and equity; and place the highest priority on the overall educational excellence of the student-athlete.