Central Islip, N.Y. – Graduate student Nelly Ciolkowski (Neuilly-Plaisance, France) from New York Institute of Technology has been named the ECC Women's Tennis Player of Year, while Andrea Samson (Key Biscayne, Fla.) from Queens College took home the Rookie of the Year honor as selected by the conference's coaches.
Ciolkowski put together a dominating season in her first year at NYIT. Coming in to the ECC Women's Tennis Championship, she has compiled an unblemished record in both singles (15-0) and doubles (14-0). Ciolkowski, currently ranked as the No. 1 player in the East Region in singles and doubles, also won both the ITA "A" Singles and Doubles championships.
Samson has been the league's top rookie throughout the season, taking home all five ECC Rookie of the Week honors. Playing at the No. 3 singles spot, Samson posted a 5-1 record in conference play and a 10-3 overall record. She also succeeded in doubles, posting an 11-2 record. Along with Francesca Fanchin, Samson had an impressive showing in the ITA "A" Doubles tournament by advancing to the semifinals before falling to NYIT's Nelly Ciolkowski and Sara Burinato.
Chris Frusci of the New York Institute of Technolgoy has been tabbed as the 2012 ECC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year by his peers. In his second season, Frusci led the Bears to the second seed in the ECC Women's Tennis Championship and 9-1 record in dual matches.
2012 ECC Women's Tennis All-Conference
First Team
Sara Burinato, So., New York Institute of Technology
Nelly Ciolkowski, Gr., New York Institute of Technology
Francesca Fanchin, So., Queens
Erika Goldsmith, Sr., Queens
Jessica Nunez, Jr., District of Columbia
Robyn Romanoff, Jr., Dowling
Second Team
Rocio Benavent, Jr., New York Institute of Technology
Maxime Duijst, Jr., District of Columbia
Madalina Florea, Jr., New York Institute of Technology
Kristyna Nepivodova, Sr., District of Columbia
Anna Rodionova, Jr., Queens
Andrea Samson, Fr., Queens
Player of the Year: Nelly Ciolkowski, Gr., New York Institute of Technology
Rookie of the Year: Andrea Samson, Fr., Queens
Coach of the Year: Chris Frusci, New York Institute of Technology
