NECC Men's Tennis All-Conference nods

Posted: May 04, 2010

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

For Immediate Release:
May 4, 2010

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Four of the five New England Collegiate Conference men's tennis programs were represented on the 2010 All-NECC Men's Tennis Team and NECC major awards, announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy.

Mitchell College sophomore Kyle Carmona (Norwich, Conn.) received top honors, as he was named NECC Player of the Year. Carmona, two-time Player of the Year, graduated from Norwich Free Academy. He is majoring in Psychology. Carmona finished regular season play with a perfect 9-0 singles record in the NECC and 9-0 in conference doubles action. He finished the year with a perfect 8-0 #1 singles record and 8-0 #1 doubles record in conference.

The NECC Rookie of the Year went to fellow Mariner freshman Rocco Devona (Waterford, Conn.), a graduate of Waterford High School. Mitchell's first year student-athlete is a Business major. Devona finished regular season play with a 10-0 overall record and 9-0 in conference play at the #2/#3 singles positions. In doubles play, he was 10-0 overall and 8-0 in the NECC at the #1 doubles.

Lesley University's Marty Morrissey was honored as NECC Coach of the Year. This is Morrissey's first conference honors. The Lynx finished the season taking the runners-up trophy with a 6-2 record. The second year program went 7-2 overall for the 2010 campaign.

The NECC Team Sportsmanship Award was presented to the Wildcats of Wheelock College. The Wildcats are led by first year head coach Sean Duke-Crocker. Wheelock finished fourth in the NECC with a 2-9 overall record and 2-6 in the NECC.

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

Joining Carmona and Rocco on the first team for singles are fellow Mariner sophomore Tyler Engleberg (Niantic, Conn.), Becker's senior Charles Heard (Stratford, Conn.), Lesley's junior Christian Domingo (Los Angeles, Calif.) and sophomore David Newton (Hampden, Conn.).

Three doubles teams were also chosen to the NECC first team. Mitchell's Carmona and Devona , Lesley's Domingo and freshman Nick Mattox (Pasadena, Md.) and Becker's senior Snjezan Telebak (Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore Jake Gilbert (Huntington Beach, Calif.).

Two Lesley Lynx received honorable mention including Mattox junior Alex Zhitnik (West Hartford, Conn.) and Wheelock's junior Wilson Chang (Lee, Mass.).

Lynx tandem of Zhitnik and Newton earned honorable mention for doubles play.