MCCC to Host ITA Small College Tennis Tournament in September 7/28/09 Mercer County Community College women's tennis head coach Marc Vecchiolla relishes the chance for his players to test their skills against many of the country's top junior college players at the national championships. In September, they will have a similar opportunity in MCCC's backyard. MCCC will serve as tournament host for the Second Women's Northeast Regional ITA/Wilson Tennis Championships Friday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Mercer County Park Tennis Center, adjacent to the College. Flight A singles and doubles winners will qualify for the ITA National Small College Championships Oct. 16-19 at Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala. Mike DeAngelis, director of the MCCC Fitness Center, is director for the tennis tournament. MCCC, which finished second at last year's inaugural Northeast Regional tournament, is one of 12 schools scheduled to compete in September. Also scheduled are fellow NJCAA Region 19 schools Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, N.J.), Gloucester County College (Sewell, N.J.) and Ocean County College (Toms River, N.J.), as well as Broome Community College (Binghamton, N.Y.), Cecil College (North East, Md.), the Fashion Institute of Technology (New York), Hagerstown (Md.) Community College, Harford Community College (Bel Air, Md.), Kingsborough Community College (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Montgomery College-Rockville (Rockville, Md.) and Nassau Community College (Garden City, N.Y.). "There are a lot of quality players in this tournament representing a bunch of schools from the Northeast region," tournament director Mike DeAngelis said. "With such a big field, spectators will expect to see some really good tennis and some talented players." The tournament will have three singles and doubles flights, with some draws including up to 24 entrants. No. 1 and 2 singles players will participate in Flight A, No. 3 and 4 singles players will participate in Flight B, and No. 5 and 6 singles players will participate in Flight C. For doubles, No. 1 and 2 teams will play in Flight A and No. 3 teams will play in Flight B. All first-round matches will be played Friday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. The second round and quarterfinals will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, beginning at 9 a.m. Semifinals and finals will be held Sunday, Sept. 27, beginning at 9 a.m. There will be a back draw for singles players who lose in the first round. Among MCCC's returning players in 2009, Rebecca Wolf (Hopewell, N.J.) is a Northeast Regional defending champion in Flight A doubles. Kristina Holsman (Hamilton, N.J.) finished second in Flight A singles at the 2008 event, while Emily Dow (West Windsor, N.J.) and Maria Eldridge (Lawrence, N.J.) finished second in Flight B doubles. The Vikings went on to place fifth at the NJCAA Division III Women's Tennis National Championships. "This is an exciting tournament because it is unlike any other that exists on our regular season schedule," Vecchiolla said. For more information, contact tournament director Mike DeAngelis at 609-570-3758. More Sports News Current MCCC News Home Page

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