Staten Island, NY – The Wagner College women's tennis team will look to improve on last season's performance as the Seahawks continue their quest for a Northeast Conference (NEC) championship under the direction of second-year head coach Adrienn Hidvegi.

Armed with a balanced roster, the 2014-15 Seahawks put together one of the best seasons in school history as the squad notched eight wins en route to posting the program's first winning season.

"We have high expectations this season," commented Hidvegi. "The girls are focused and putting forth a tremendous effort in practice." 

The Green & White have experience returning in the form of seniors Jenna Harris (Fountain Hills, AZ/Fountain Hills) and Marina Rull Valvieso (Barcelona, Spain/IES Antony Cumella [Tarleton State]) along with junior Madison Pautsch (Costa Mesa, CA/Edison)

A year ago, Rull Valvieso posted an impressive 9-4 singles mark, which included five wins out of the No. 1 position and a 4-1 mark in No. 2 singles.  Harris recorded three victories out of the No. 5 spot while Pautsch tallied six singles triumphs, three coming from the fourth position.

Last year's newcomers, Carolyn Gibson (Windermere, FL/IMG Academy) and Samantha Hodges (Encinitas, CA/San Dieguito Academy), showed flashes of brilliance on the court, combining to take seven triumphs. Hodges was tabbed to the inaugural All-NEC Rookie Team, becoming the first Seahawk women's tennis player to garner All-Conference accolades since the league changed to a team flight format in 1999. Hodges is the first Seahawk to earn NEC recognition since Madalina Voinea captured the 1989 Singles "A" Championship.

Hidvegi has added two new players into the fold in junior Avika Sagwal (New Dehli, India/Delhi Public High School [Southeastern Louisiana]) and freshman Rina Baynes (Johns Creek, GA/Chattahoochee).

The Schedule
Four of the first five matches on the fall schedule for the Green & White are against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) schools, starting on Sept. 12 with a home matchup against Saint Peter's.  Four days later, Wagner travels to Lawrenceville, NJ as Seahawks take on Rider.  The Green & White will travel to Long Island on Sept. 18 and Sept. 19 to compete in the Hofstra Invitational.

Rounding out the month of the September, the squad faces two more MAAC schools, beginning with a Sept. 20 meeting vs. Siena and concluding two days later on the Jersey Shore when the Seahawks travel to West Long Branch, NJ to take on Monmouth.

The month of October kicks off with a conference meeting opposite the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers on Grymes Hill on Oct. 3. To conclude the fall season, the Seahawks return to Hempstead as they compete against Hofstra on October 11.

Be sure to follow Wagner Athletics on Facebook (facebook.com/WagnerAthletics), Twitter (@wagnerathletics), Instagram (@wagnerathletics) and YouTube (@WagnerSeahawks) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department.  Follow the women's tennis program on Twitter (@WagnerWTennis).