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MCCC
Athlete of the Week
2009-2010
Week
of May 16-22
Co-Athletes: Softball
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Kirsten
Edinger
Freshman
Ewing, NJ
Ewing HS
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Jenna
Berger
Sophomore
Fairless Hills, PA
Pennsbury HS |
Kirsten Edinger
stepped up with some big at bats for the Vikings during her freshman
season and in her first World Series appearance May 20-23 in Normal,
Ill. Edinger had 4 hits and collected 7 RBIs over three games. Her
hits came at the just the right time, with a three-run homer in
the second game vs. Highland CC (KS) to lead the Vikings to an 8-7
victory. In the third game, facing Johnson CC (KS), Edinger hit
a grand slam in the 6th inning to tie the game, but Johnson came
back with 6 runs in the 7th to come away with the victory and eliminate
the Vikings.
The softball team has ridden the arm of sophomore pitcher Jenna
Berger all year. The Region 19 Tournament MVP gave a solid performance
in the Vikings' three games in the Division II World Series. Berger
threw 16 innings, had 5 strikeouts over 3 games, and held ultimate
World Series Champion Muskegon to 5 runs in their tournament opener.
Berger also came up big at the plate in the World Series, hitting
.500 for the tournament and scoring two runs.
Mercer last played
in the NJCAA World Series in 2007.
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Jenna
Berger
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Week of May
9-15
Co-Athletes: Men's Tennis
Jason
Bielski
Sophomore
Ewing, NJ
Parker HS |
Matt
Pierson
Sophomore
Princeton, NJ
Montgomery HS |
At the NJCAA
tournament in Plano, TX, Mercer's no. 1 doubles partners, Jason
Bielski and Matt Pierson, won the national title, beating opponents
from nearby Brookdale CC in three hard-fought sets, 6-7(5); 6-4;
and 6-4. To get to the final, Bielski and Pierson first faced Billy
Boykin and Chris Dickson of Oxford College in the quarterfinal round,
winning in three sets 6-3; 4-6; 6-3. In the semifinal match, they
defeated Russell Payne and Jordan Smith of Broome CC 6-2; 3-6; 6-4.
At no. 2 singles,
Bielski stayed alive all the way to the finals, defeating Eric Tressler
of Onandaga CC in the quarterfinal and Tim Steele of the CC of Rhode
Island before falling to Tyler Adland of Rock Valley CC.
MCCC ended the
competition in fifth place out of 11 teams with 20 points.
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Jason
Bielski
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Matt
Pierson
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Week
of May 2-8
Co-Athletes: Softball
Jessica
Maciolek
Sophomore
Hamilton, NJ
Steinert HS |
Kirsten
Edinger
Freshman
Ewing, NJ
Ewing HS |
Sophomore Jess
Maciolek provided the leadership and solid play the Vikings needed
to capture the Region 19 title this weekend and advance to the Division
II World Series in Bloomington, IN. Maciolek went 7 for 18 over
the weekend, scored 8 runs and had 3 RBIs. The All Region and All
Conference selection from 2009 also led the Vikings with great defensive
work at shortstop.
Freshman Kirsten Edinger also came through with a big bat during
the tournament, hitting .500, collecting 9 RBI's and scoring 7 runs.
In the championship game, Edinger earned 3 RBI's to lead MCCC to
a 8-5 victory over County College of Morris. Her solid offensive
play, as well as her strong defensive presence at second base, were
key in Mercer's triumph.
The Region 19
title is the Vikings' second under Ryan Zegarski, who began as head
coach in 2005.
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Jess
Maciolek
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Kirsten
Edinger
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Week of Apr. 25-May 1
Co-Athletes: Baseball
Matt
Hill
Sophomore
Robbinsville, NJ
Robbinsville HS |
Russ
Stupienski
Sophomore
Columbus, NJ
Northern Burlington HS
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The offensive
performances of Matt Hill and Russ Stupienski have helped the baseball
team reach the top of the Garden State Athletic Conference and both
sophomores came through with huge hitting this weekend, combining
for 12 for 13 hits in a doubleheader vs. Salem CC May 1. Mercer
won the first game 22-5 and the second game 14-2.
Third baseman Hill, a second team All Garden State Athletic Conference
selection last year, is batting .381 on the season and leads the
Vikings with 26 RBI's. Utility player Russ Stupienski, who was offered
a pre-season scholarship to play baseball at St. Peter's College
next year, is batting .246 and has 8 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched.
The continued
solid performance of Hill and Stupienski will be counted on as the
Vikings head into the Region 19 playoffs this weekend.
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Matt
Hill
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Russ
Stupienski
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Week
of Apr. 18-24
Co-Athletes: Men's Tennis
Matt
Romano
Sophomore
Skillman, NJ
Montgomery
HS
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Juan
Ramirez
Freshnman
Pennington, NJ
Hightstown HS
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The
men's tennis team is packed with talent this year, but only third
doubles partners Matt Romano and Juan Ramirez achieved perfection
in during the regular season with a record of 12-0.
In the Region 19 Tournament, played at Mercer County Park April
23-24, Romano and Ramirez received a first round bye, then defeated
Williamson Trade in the semifinals and Gloucester CC in the finals
in a third set tiebreaker.
According to coach Marc Vecchiolla, these two players complement
each other well, and will be a formidable team when the Vikings
compete at the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament,
to be held May 10-14 in Plano, TX.
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Matt
Romano
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Juan
Ramirez
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Week of Apr.
11-17
Co-Athletes: Baseball
Luis
Alvarez
Sophomore
Hmilton, NJ
Nottingham HS
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James
Page
Sophomore
Lawrenceville, NJ
Cherry Hill East HS
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The offensive explosion of sophomore outfielder Lou Alvarez over
the weekend is one of the reasons Mercer was able to sweep its double-header
versus Burlington County College on April 17. In game one, Alvarez
collected three hits, scored twice and had an RBI in a 8-6 win.
In the second game, he had two hits and an RBI in the Vikings' 5-0
victory. On the season Alvarez has compiled 17 hits. Heading intot
Saturday's doubleheader, he had a .261 batting average.
A second key to Mercer's sweep of Burlington over the weekend was
James Page's dominant performance on the mound. Page, who earned
a pre-season baseball scholarship to attend St. Peter's College
next year, pitched a four-hit shut-out in Mercer's 5-0 victory.
The sophomore right-hander is 2-2 on the year with 14 strikeouts.
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Luis
Alvarez
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James
Page
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Week
of Apr. 4-10
Co-Athletes: Softball
Jenna Berger
Sophomore
Levittown, PA
Pennsbury HS
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Beth
Rochon
Freshman
Croydon, PA
Bucks County Technical |
According to
head coach Ryan Zegarski, his pitchers, sophomore Jenna Berger and
freshman Beth Rochon, are the two constants that are keeping the
women's softball team performing at a high level.
In a doubleheader against Lackawanna on Apr. 10, Berger recorded
a 10-1 win in the first game. Rochon followed with a 14-1 victory
in the second game.
Thus far on
the sesaon, Berger has an 11-4 record with a 1.33 ERA and 72 strikeouts
in 91 innings pitched. Rochon has a 10-2 record with a 2.00 ERA
and 51 strikeouts in 67 innings.
The team's
record stands at 21-6.
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Jenna
Berger
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Beth
Rochon
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Week
of Mar. 29-Apr. 3
Shawn Reindel
Baseball
Sophomore
Hunterdon Central HS
After missing last season due to injury, sophomore pitcher Shawn Reindel
has returned with solid performances. The right-hander helped the
baseball team cross the .500 mark with a strong outing Apr. 3 in which
Mercer defeated Sussex CC 11-5. Reindel threw 3 innings of no-hit,
no-walk ball that included 4 strike-outs. He is 2-1 thus far on the
season. |
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Week of Mar. 22-28
Co-Athletes: Men's Tennis
Matt
Pierson
Sophomore
Princeton, NJ
Montgomery HS |
Jason
Bielski
Sophomore
Ewing, NJ
Parker HS
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Mercer's No.
1 and No. 2 singles players captured their respective singles flights
and paired up to win the first doubles flight at this weekend's
Harford Invitational Tournament. Their win led Mercer, which dominated
the event, to earn 24 of a possible 27 team points. In season play
thus rar, Pierson and Bielski are both 6-0 at singles and 5-2 at
doubles.
Pierson possesses
a huge tactical all-round game, including both powerful serve and
forehand. Bielski, a team co-captain, relies on consistency and
cerebral play to chip away at his opponents.
The team stands
4-0 in the current season.
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Matt
Pierson
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Jason
Bielski
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Week of Mar. 15-21
Alyssa Becker
Softball
Freshman
Yardley,
PA
Pennsbury High School
After three games in New Jersey, the Vikings headed for the
Snowbird Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., earning a 6-2 record in
five days of intense play from Mar. 14 to 18. Centerfielder Alyssa
Becker contributed substantially to the team's success, hitting
an even .500 (13 for 26 at-bats). Especially notable was her game-winning
three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the
Vikings a 6-4 victory over Brookdale on Mar. 17. She also proved
her versatility and leadership in the outfield.
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Week of Mar.
8-14
Co-Athletes: Men's and Women's Basketball
Uros
Kovacevic
Sophomore
Montenegro
Ivan Uskokovic
High Sch. |
Alexis
Sweet
Freshman
Trenton,
N.J.
Trenton
High School
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The excellent seasons of the Mercer County Community College basketball
teams are reflected in individual all-star honors, led by freshman
forward Alexis Sweet (Trenton, N.J.) being named to both the Region
19 and Garden State Athletic Conference first teams. The 5-foot-8
Sweet averaged a double-double of points and rebounds for the 21-9
Lady Vikings and ranks in the Top 10 in scoring in NJCAA Division
II.
On the men's side, Uros Kovacevic (Montenegro)
earned GSAC first team and
Region19 second team honors.The sophomore
guard/forward leads the Vikings in scoring and is tied for the lead
in assists. He will play a pivotal role in this week's NJCAA
Division II Championships in Danville, Ill. |
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Alexis
Sweet
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Uros
Kovacevic
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Week
of Mar. 1-7
Quentin Loftin
Men's Basketball
Sophomore
Florence, NJ
Florence High School
Earning its first Region 19 title since 1998 on Mar. 2, the men's
basketball team has benefited greatly from the strong performance
of sophomore guard Quentin Loftin, a starter for all 32 games. Known
as a defensive specialist, Loftin came up big on the offensive end
last Tuesday when he poured in 12 points to help a balanced scoring
attack that featured all five starters scoring in double figures.
Loftin's tough, gritty play on both ends of the floor will be key
during the National Tournament.
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Week of Feb. 22-28
Isaiah Andrews
Men's Basketball
Freshman
Florence, NJ
Burlington Twp. High School
The men's basketball team is one win away from advancing to the
Division II National Tournament, thanks in part to the solid play
of freshman forward Isaiah Andrews. Andrews had 17 points and 4
rebounds in MCCC's Region 19 quarterfinal win over Essex Feb. 23,
followed by 13 points and 4 rebounds in their semi-final victory
over Del Tech Stanton Feb. 28. Heading into the title game, Andrews
is averaging 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds. He has been a powerful
presence in the post for the Vikings, who will need his consistent
play on both ends of the floor to help lead them to the Nationals.
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Week of Feb. 14-20
Jenn Casper
Women's Basketball
Ivyland, PA
Council Rock North High School
An ACL injury in the Lady Vikes' first game cut short a promising
season for sophomore forward Jenn Casper. Still, Jenn attends every
practice and game, cheering on teammates and rehabbing daily to get
ready for basketball at a four-year college next year. Her dedication
on and off the court sets an example about her work ethic and commitment
as an athlete and student. The Liberal Arts major hopes to continue
to strengthen her knee so she can build on the 7.1 points per game
and 7.8 rebounds she averaged in her first season at Mercer.
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Week of Feb. 7-13
Derek Williams
Men's Basketball
Sophomore
Willingboro, N.J.
Willingboro High School
Derek Williams'
play at point guard has led Mercer on a seven-game winning streak
that has included wins over Raritan, Ocean, Burlington and Del Tech
in the last two weeks. The sophomore has averaged double figures
in scoring (14 points per game) and dished out 24 assists over these
four games. His leadership and steady play over the next few weeks
are key as the Vikings look to advance in the Region 19 Tournament,
which begins next week.
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Week of Jan. 30-Feb. 6
Co-Athletes: Men's Soccer
Amit
Aburmad
Tel Aviv, Israel |
Ido
Ligety
Tevan, Israel
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Midfielders
Amit Aburmad (Tel Aviv, Israel) and Ido Ligety (Tevan, Israel) have
accepted full scholarships to contine their academic and soccer
careers at Div. I colleges in fall 2010. Aburmad will attend Boston
College of the Atlantic Coast Conference, while Ligety will play
soccer for St. John's of the Big East.
Ligety
was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America second-team
All-American in 2009. Aburmad was a first-team National Junior College
Athletic Association All-American in 2008 and led MCCC with 13 goals
and eight assists in 2009. Both players were All-Region 19 first-team
selections.
Ligety
and Aburmad are Dean's List students studying Business Administration.
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Amit
Aburmad, left, and Ido Ligety
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Week of Jan. 18-24
Samantha Cobbs
Women's Basketball
Sophomore
Bordentown, N.J.
Bordentown High School
Team captain
Samantha Cobbs has been a solid leader, even as she grapples with
a nagging hamstring problem. She contributes in all the small ways
that add up to team success. In the Lady Vikes' last two wins, "Cobbie"
scored 12 pts. in an 81-79 victory over Union CC on Jan. 21 and
hit 9 pts. against Camden on Jan. 23.
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Week of Jan. 11-17
Paco Boussougou
Men's Basketball
Sophomore
Gabon
Laurinberg
Paco Boussougou
has come on strong for MCCC as its leading rebounder and second-highest
scorer. The 6-foot-4 big man had a pair of double-doubles while
the Vikings split a pair of games in New England earlier this month.
He had a double-double in the 73-65 win over Middlesex on Saturday.
The prior week, he had 19 points and 13 rebounds in a 73-59 victory
over Massassoit, and 13 points and 11 boards in a 71-65 loss to
the Community College of Rhode Island. The Vikings have a 9-9 record.
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Week of Jan. 4-10
Azaria Crews
Women's Basketball
Freshman
Ewing, N.J.
Ewing High School
Azaria Crews
proved pivotal in the Vikings' last three games, earning 21 points
and 11 rebounds in a win against Manor on Jan. 5; 8 points and 7
rebounds vs. Community College of Rhode Island on Jan. 9; and 20
points and 8 rebounds against UConn Avery Point on Jan. 10. She
was named Player of the Year in the CVC as a senior in high school
and was recently selected to the all-decade third team by the Trenton
Times.
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Week of Dec. 14-20
Uros Kovacevic
Men's Basketball
Sophomore
Montenegro
Ivan Uskokovic
High School
What MCCC men’s
basketball coach Howard Levy especially likes about Uros Kovacevic
is that he can play any position, making him a valuable all-round
contributor. The 6-foot-4 forward collected 18 points, five assists
and three rebounds in the Dec. 18 game against FIT. He is averaging
14 points, 4.5 assists and four rebounds for the Vikings (5-8),
who are on a mid-season break until Jan. 5.
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Week of Nov.
30-Dec. 6
Co-Athletes
of the Week: Baseball
James Page
Sophomore
Lawrenceville, N.J.
Cherry Hill High School West
Russell Stupienski
Sophomore
Columbus, N.J.
Northern Burlington Regional High School
It’s always
a thrill for a two-year college when a student-athlete earns a scholarship
to a four-year program. MCCC’s baseball program has doubled
that achievement in recent weeks and will send both James Page and
Russ Stupienski to the same four-year school next year after both
signed national letters of intent with Saint Peter’s College
of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Page is a 6’4”,
210-pound right-handed pitcher, while the 5’8”, 180-pound
Stupienski is a catcher, first baseman and pitcher. Both players
will be key members of this coming spring’s squad, which hopes
to build on the Vikings’ 27-15 season in 2009.
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James
Page
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Russ
Stupienski
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Week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6
Frank Tweneboa
Men's Soccer
Sophomore
Pennsauken, N.J.
Pennsauken High School
Recognition
for MCCC’s outstanding forward has reached far beyond Region
19 and the Garden State Athletic Conference. Frank Tweneboa has
been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-American
first team. The versatile Tweneboa had three goals and seven assists
for the Vikings’ 14-2 squad and helped the program win 33 games
during his two seasons.
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Week of Nov. 23-29
Alexis Sweet
Women's Basketball
Freshman
Trenton,
N.J.
Trenton
High School
Alexis Sweet
posted back-to-back double-doubles to lead MCCC to a pair of victories
at its Holiday Classic: 21 points and 12 rebounds against the CCRI,
and 20 points and 13 rebounds against CCBC-Dundalk. For the week,
the 5’8” forward averaged 19.7 points and 11 rebounds
in three games. Head coach Mike Tenaglia says Sweet attacks the
basket better than any player in his 20 seasons at MCCC.
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Week of Nov. 16-22
Samantha Foley
Women's Basketball
Sophomore
Hamilton, N.J.
Nottingham High School
The Vikings' tallest player came up big in an 81-73 loss to Harcum
College. The versatile, 6-foot forward scored 16 points while shooting
7-for-9 from the floor. She picked up a double-double by grabbing
10 rebounds and added two assists and two blocked shots. Foley is
a two-year starter for the Vikings (1-2), who play three times this
week.
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Week of Nov. 9-15
Marcus Jimenez
Men's Basketball
Sophomore
Vineland, N.J.
Vineland High School
Marcus Jimenez
helped MCCC to a split of two games. An excellent outside shooter,
the 5-foot-8 guard has been contributing in many ways already this
season. One of his better all-around games occurred this past week
against Harford Community College, when he had 12 points, four rebounds
and one steal. The Vikings are 2-2 overall.
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Week of Nov. 2-8
Frank Tweneboa
Men's Soccer
Sophomore
Pennsauken, N.J.
Pennsauken High School
The two-year
standout at forward made the All-Region 19 and All-Garden State
Athletic Conference first team and has been nominated for National
Junior College Athletic Association All-American honors. Tweneboa
had three goals and seven assists for the Vikings’ 14-2 squad.
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Week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1
Carolyn Walters
Women’s
Soccer
Sophomore
Hamilton, N.J.
Nottingham High School
As MCCC repeated
as the Region 19 Division I champs, forward Carolyn Walters scored
two goals in a 3-1 victory over Burlington County College in the
final on Oct 31. The Liberal Arts major also scored in the Vikings’
5-1 semifinal-round win over Sussex County College on Oct. 28. The
Vikings next play in the National Junior College Athletic Association
District G tournament, which will be played Nov. 6-8 in Monroe,
NY.
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Week of Oct.
19-25
Co-Athletes of the Week:
Women’s Tennis
Maria
Eldridge
Sophomore
Lawrenceville, N.J.
Lawrence High School |
Sachiko
Nishida
Freshman
Princeton, N.J.
Kudan High School (Tokyo)
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Maria Eldridge
and Sachiko Nishida were both singles runners-up at the Region 19
Championships, held Oct. 23-24. MCCC finished third as a team behind
champion Gloucester County College and second-place Brookdale Community
College. Eldridge reached the No. 4 final with a 6-0, 6-1 win in
the semifinals. With an 11-8 record, she led the Vikings in singles
wins this season.
Nishida, playing at her first regional championships, also won in
straight sets in the semifinals en route to the No. 6 final.
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Maria
Eldridge
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Sachiko
Nishida
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Week
of Oct. 12-18
Rebecca
Wolf
Women’s
Tennis
Sophomore
Pennington,
N.J.
Hopewell
Valley High School
Women’s
tennis coach Marc Vecchiolla lauds Rebecca Wolf for her leadership
qualities. Her tennis ability isn’t bad, either. The sophomore
posted an impressive 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles against powerful
Gloucester County College on Oct. 13. Wolf is a baseliner who finishes
off points with her forehand. This weekend, the Liberal Arts student
majoring in Psychology will try to repeat as the No. 2 singles champion
and No. 1 doubles champ (with partner Kristina Holsman) at the Region
19 Championships, hosted by Gloucester.
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Week of Oct.
5-11
Ido Ligety
Men's Soccer
Sophomore
Tivan, Israel
Ort Tivon
Sophomore Ido
Ligety continues to anchor the midfield for Mercer's men's soccer
team as the Vikings look to qualify for their ninth straight National
Tournament. On the season, Ligety has 2 goals and 4 assists and
has helped MCCC to a 11-1 record. Ido's dominance in the midfield
has drawn the attention of some top Division I programs, where he
hopes to transfer next year. Ligety's strong offensive and defensive
play helped Mercer to a 3-1 victory over Union Oct. 5 and 3-0 win
at Essex Oct. 9.
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Week of Sept.
28-Oct. 4
Kasey Kenny
Women’s Soccer
Sophomore
Staten Island, N.Y.
Tottenville High School
Kasey Kenny
is making a bid for National Junior College Athletic Association
Division I All-American honors for the second straight year. The
high-scoring forward pumped in seven goals as MCCC won three games
by a combined 14-0 last week, including a hat trick in the Vikings’
7-0 victory over Bucks County Community College. One season after
scoring 29 goals as a freshman, Kenny has 17 goals during the Vikings’
9-3 start.
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Week of Sept.
21-27
Emily Dow
Women’s
Tennis
Sophomore
Princeton
Junction, N.J.
West
Windsor-Plainsboro North
Emily Dow advanced
to the quarterfinals of ‘A’ flight singles and semifinals
of ‘A’ flight doubles with partner Rebecca Wolf at the
Second Women’s Northeast Regional ITA/Wilson Tennis Championship,
hosted by MCCC at Mercer County Park. Dow, a key returnee from last
year’s NJCAA Division III Championship qualifying squad, won
two matches in each flight.
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Week
of Sept. 14-20
Carolyn Walters
Women’s Soccer
Sophomore
Hamilton, N.J.
Nottingham High School
With some MCCC
forwards battling through injuries, Carolyn Walters has increased
her leadership role and continues to produce offensively. She scored
a goal in a 2-0 win over Ocean County College and had a goal and
an assist in a 3-2 win over Dean College. Her four goals tie for
the team lead.
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Week
of Sept. 7-13
Amit Aburmad
Men’s Soccer
Sophomore
Tel Aviv, Israel
Berl Katenelson HS of Education
Amit Aburmad
is dictating play this season as he did in 2008 en route to NJCAA
Division I All-American honors and the Vikings' third place national
finish. The midfielder scored twice and delivered three assists
as MCCC won its first two games by a combined 10-2 goal total.
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