BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The Moravian College women's tennis team has named seniors Katie Zien, Erica Venuti and Olivia Sonnabend and junior Melissa Follett to leadership roles for the 2013-14 season.
Zien will serve as the team captain and Venuti will be a co-captain for the whole year. Sonnabend will serve as a co-captain for the fall before finishing her degree in December while Follett will be a co-captain for the spring.
Zien is in her fourth year with the Greyhounds, and she posted a 6-3 record at second singles with a 3-3 mark in Landmark matches last sprint to earn a spot on the Landmark All-Conference Second Team. Zien, who was on the All-Conference First Team in doubles in 2011-12 year, also had a 6-3 record in doubles last season, and Zien has a career singles mark of 28-17 for the Greyhounds. Zien is a three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete
"Katie is a natural leader who is highly respected by her teammates," stated Head Coach Dawn Ketterman-Benner. "She takes her position seriously and inspires the team to be their best on and off the courts."
Venuti is also in her fourth season with Moravian. She was named to the 2013 Landmark All-Conference First Team in doubles as she posted a 9-3 mark with a 7-2 slate as part of Moravian's top doubles team with Follett. Venuti, who was 10-9 in singles action and 7-6 at third singles last season, earned All-Conference honors for the second straight season after being on the All-Conference Second Team in doubles in 2012. Venuti is also a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete.
"Erica has played four years with me, and she is highly organized, dedicated, and hard working," Ketterman-Benner said. "Her senior leadership will be most helpful with the seven new freshmen players."
Sonnabend will finish her four-year career with fall with the Greyhounds. She had an 11-5 record in doubles last season including a 4-2 mark with Zien at second doubles. Sonnabend was 5-6 at sixth singles for the Greyhounds, and she is a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete.
"Olivia was selected for her maturity, ability to listen, and for her scholarship activity---her consistent high grades set the standard for the team," explained Ketterman-Benner.
"These three seniors have played an integral part the past 3 years in the success of Moravian Tennis—they know what is expected of them as student-athletes and they are excellent role-models for the team," continued Ketterman-Benner.
Follett was named to the Landmark All-Conference First Team in singles and doubles in her debut season with Moravian last year. She had an 11-5 record in singles action including a 7-2 slate at first singles last spring. Follett was also 5-1 in Landmark Conference matches during the season.
"Melissa is a leader on the courts and as our #1 player; she motivates her teammates to excel," stated Ketterman-Benner.
Moravian will begin the fall portion of its 2013-14 season on Saturday, August 31 when the squad hosts the Moravian College Team Tournament at Hoffman Courts. The Greyhounds will play Rutgers-Camden in the opening round at 9:00 a.m.
