The remarkable success of Vikings Women’s Tennis from the 1997-1998 thru 2005-2006 seasons started with the decision to re-establish the program as a varsity sport in the Fall of 1997 after being discontinued for more than a decade. Next Stan Dlugosz and John Suarez convinced a reluctant Marc Vecchiolla, still new to his primary job as Director of The Mercer County Tennis Center, to become Head Coach. Although concerned about the additional commitment, Vecchiolla today calls his acceptance of the position one of the best decisions he has ever made.
Following that improbable start, over the next 9 seasons under Coach Vecchiolla and Assistant Coach Ralph Bencivengo and player turned coach Barb Pleva, the teams created a nationally-recognized dynasty, with a total record of 66-4 (including 6 undefeated seasons) in conference competition, winning 9 consecutive regional championships, and advancing each year to the NJCAA Division III national championships, at which the Vikings won the title 4 times (1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005) and placed second 3 times (1998, 2001 and 2006). During the period, 26 players were recognized as NJCAA All-Americans, including 10 who gained the honor twice.
1999 National Championship Team by the numbers: The 6 members of the team in singles rank order were #1 Dinia Agrawala, #2 Gina Trischitti, #3 Valerie Cooney, #4 Karen Hollywood, #5 Barbara Pleva and #6 Naomi Okubo. Four of the players (Dinia, Gina, Valerie and Karen) were returnees from the 1997-1998 squad, which had an 8-0 record in conference play and finished in second place in the national tournament. The team had an international flavor, with 3 of the players from overseas, (Dinia – Germany, Karen - Scotland and Naomi -Japan) and 3 from New Jersey. Two of the players (Dinia and Barb, who had 3 children in college) were older than the head coach. The 1999 team had a 7-0 record in conference play in the fall of 1998, again gained the Region 19 title, and won the program’s first National Championship in May 1999 in Tucson, AZ. As a result of the nationals, 5 players (Gina, Valerie, Karen, Barb and Naomi) were selected as All-Americans, with Gina and Valerie each for the second time. Dinia was named an All-American in 1998 and Naomi was selected again in 2000.
The 1998-1999 Women’s Tennis Team is being inducted as part of the inaugural class into the Athletics Hall of Fame as the first Vikings women’s team to win a National Championship as well as for their “save it for the van” mantra both on and off the court.
