Monday, October 20, 2003

FIVE GREYHOUNDS NAMED MORAVIAN STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

BETHLEHEM, PA --- Junior Becky Deringer (Allentown, PA/Dieruff HS) and senior Lauren Castagna (Mt. Bethel, PA/Bangor HS) of the women’s tennis team, sophomore Lindsey Siracusa (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury HS) from the women’s volleyball squad, junior Jill Vaccaro (South Salem, NY/John Jay HS) of the women’s soccer team and sophomore Ryan Walker (Metuchen, NJ/Metuchen HS) from the men’s soccer squad have been named the Moravian College Student-Athletes of the Week for their performances last week.

Deringer and Castagna won the 2003 Middle Atlantic Corporation Women’s Tennis Doubles Championship hosted by Drew University on Saturday and Sunday. Deringer and Castagna were the third seed in the tournament and defeated the top seeded team of Heidi von Schwedler and Josemar Castillo of Lycoming College, 6-0, 6-4 in the semifinals and fourth seeded Abby Woodhead and Anne Luetzow of Drew University, 6-2, 6-1 in the championship match. After a first round bye on Saturday, Deringer and Castagna defeated Allison Hoffman and Jillian Federico of the University Scranton, 6-0, 6-3, in the second round and fifth seeded Melanie Parenteau and Kristy Trimbey of Elizabethtown College, 6-4, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. Moravian won its fourth straight MAC Team Championship and finished the season with a 15-1 record.

Siracusa, a middle hitter, helped the Greyhounds post a 3-2 record last week, including a 3-1 mark at the 2003 Green Terror Invitational hosted by McDaniel College. Siracusa opened the week with 15 kills, eight digs and four blocks in a 3-1 loss at Lebanon Valley College. She added 14 kills and five blocks in a 3-1 victory over Gallaudet University to open the Green Terror Invitational. Siracusa contributed seven kills, four blocks and two service aces in a 3-0 sweep of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and she added 14 kills, three blocks and two service aces in a 3-0 win versus Villa Julie College. Siracusa had 15 kills, four blocks and four digs in Moravian’s 3-1 loss to Salisbury University in the championship match of the Green Terror Invitational. For the week, Siracusa had 65 kills, 20 blocks, 15 digs and four service aces in 18 games while posting a .286 hitting percentage. Moravian is 20-7 overall, the eighth consecutive 20-win season for the Greyhounds, and 3-2 in Commonwealth Conference action. The Greyhounds will return to action on Wednesday, October 22nd in a Commonwealth Conference match at Elizabethtown College beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Vaccaro, a goalie, posted three shutouts last week to lead Moravian to a 2-0-1 record in Commonwealth Conference action. Vaccaro began the week with three saves in a 2-0 shutout of Albright College, and she added five saves in a double-overtime, scoreless tie, 0-0, at Lebanon Valley College in a battle of NCAA regional ranked teams. Moravian is ranked eighth while Lebanon was ranked ninth. Vaccaro finished the week with seven saves in a 2-0 shutout of Susquehanna University. Vaccaro has not allowed a goal in her last 334 minutes of action, her second streak of at least 332 minutes this season. Vaccaro, who has six shutouts this fall, did not allow a goal in Moravian’s first 332 minutes of the year. The Greyhounds are currently 8-1-3 overall and 3-1-1 in the Commonwealth Conference. Moravian will return to action on Tuesday, October 21st when the squad hosts the University of Scranton, the region’s top ranked squad, in a non-conference match beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Walker, a goalkeeper, made his first two career starts in goal for Moravian and led the Greyhounds to a 1-0-1 record last week. Walker’s first career start ended in a 0-0, double-overtime tie with College Misericordia, and he had six saves. Walker then made two saves while playing the first half of a 2-0 shutout of Susquehanna University. Walker left the match at halftime with a 1-0 lead. Moravian is 2-10-3 overall a 1-2-2 in the Commonwealth Conference. The Greyhounds will return to action on Wednesday, October 22nd in a non-conference match with Eastern University beginning at 3:00 p.m.