Story courtesy of Christa Parulis-Kaye, Assistant Commissioner of Media Relations

For Immediate Release:
April 30, 2009

ATTLEBORO, Mass.- Four of the five New England Collegiate Conference men's tennis programs were represented on the  2009 All-NECC  Men's Tennis Team and NECC major awards, announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy.

Mitchell College freshman Kyle Carmona (Norwich, Conn.) received top honors, as he was named NECC Player of the Year.  Carmona is a first-year student-athlete from Norwich Free Academy. He is  majoring in Psychology.  Carmona finished regular season play with a perfect 8-0 singles record in the NECC and  8-0 in conference doubles action. Overall he finished the year with a perfect 10-0 #1 singles record and 10-0  #1 doubles record.

The NECC Rookie of the Year went to fellow freshman Mariner Tyler Engleberg  (Shrewsbury, Mass.), a graduate of East Lyme High School. Mitchell's first year student-athlete is a Hospitality and Tourism major.  Engleberg  finished regular season play with a 9-0 overall record and 6-0 in conference play at the #2 singles positions. In doubles play, he was 8-1 overall at the #1, #2 and #3 spots.

Mitchell College's Rick Carmona was honored as NECC Coach of the Year. This is Carmona's second NECC honor as he was also named the 2008 NECC Women's Tennis Coach of the year.  The Mariners finished the season with a perfect  11-0 record playing their final regular season match against Anna Maria to a 7-2 victory.  For their undefeated 8-0 conference record, Mitchell was awarded the 2009 NECC Men's Tennis Championship Title.

The NECC Team Sportsmanship Award was presented to the Lynx of Lesley University. The Lynx are led by second year head coach Paul Vasconcelos. Currently the Lynx are 5-6 overall and 4-3 in the NECC with a final match against Lesley being played later today.

Voting for the All-NECC team and each of the major awards was conducted among NECC men's tennis coaches.

Joining Carmona and Engleberg on the first team for singles were fellow Mariner senior Samuel Mahar (Hoosick, N.Y.), Lesley's senior Fran Cusick (Lexington, Mass.) and freshman David Newton (Hamden, Conn.) and Becker's sophomore Snjezan Telbak (Chicago, Ill.).

Three doubles teams were also chosen to the NECC first team. Mitchell's Carmona and senior  Dan Dworetsky (Glastonbury, Conn.) along with Engleberg  and freshman Adam Samuels (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and  Lesley's Newton and freshman Sonny Ljutica (Rexford, N.Y.) all were honored.

Two Newbury Nighthawks received honorable mention including freshman Matt O'Donnell (Vernon, Conn.), junior Nick Sehovich (Pelham, N.H.) and Lesley's Ljutica  in singles action. Cusick and sophomore partner Alejandro Lazo (Boston, Mass.) grabbed honorable mention for doubles play.

To download the 2009 ALL-NECC PDF please click here.