Sports News: Fall 2005

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

THREE GREYHOUNDS NAMED TO COMMONWEALTH TENNIS ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

ANNVILLE, PA --- Senior Nicole Gruber (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon HS) of the Moravian College women’s tennis team has been named to the 2005 Commonwealth All-Conference First Team while senior Katie Cooke (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley HS) and sophomore Brittany Popaca (Lavallette, NJ/Point Pleasant Beach HS) was named to the All-Conference Second Team announced by the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation Tuesday.

The trio has helped the Greyhounds to a 13-1 record this season, including the team’s 12th consecutive conference championship match. Moravian, which is the top seed in the Commonwealth Conference Championships that begin on Wednesday, has won seven conference titles in the last nine years under the direction of head coach Dawn Benner.

Gruber, the Greyhounds’ number two singles player, has a 9-4 singles mark this fall, and she combined with sophomore Leah Bradshaw (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge HS) as Moravian’s second doubles tandem and a record of 10-4. Gruber, who was honored as the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week on Monday, was on the Commonwealth All-Conference Second Team in 2004. Gruber has career marks of 44-21 in singles action and 22-9 in doubles competition.

Cooke, Moravian’s number six singles player, has a perfect 12-0 singles record in her first year as a starter. Cooke, who is 4-0 in doubles action this fall with freshman Kelly Gerbino (Easton, PA/Easton HS) does have a 23-6 singles mark during her career, and she is 15-8 in doubles action.

Popaca, who was the MSASCAC Sixth Singles Champion last fall, is looking for her second straight undefeated fall season with a singles mark of 13-0 at third singles. Popaca is 28-1 in singles action in her career at Moravian with the only loss coming last spring during the team’s non-traditional season. Popaca also has a 6-2 career doubles mark including a 3-1 record this season with sophomore Jennel Yelito (Tamaqua, PA/Tamaqua HS).

Moravian is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, October 12th when the top seeded Greyhounds host fourth seeded Lebanon Valley College in a Commonwealth Conference Semifinal at Hoffman Courts in Bethlehem at 2:30 p.m.