PURCHASE, N.Y. – Following a perfect 6-0 regular season in conference play in pursuit of a second-consecutive Skyline Conference Championship, the Manhattanville University women's tennis team earned six total accolades as part of the All-Conference Team. Head Coach
Alex Sandri was named Skyline Conference Coach of the Year, while
Adrianna Filippelli (Mastic, N.Y./William Floyd) was selected as the Conference Rookie of the Year.
Filippelli highlighted four All-Conference First Team selections, joined by teammates
Suzi Doyle (Devon, England/Exeter College),
Addison-Mercedes Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y./High School for Health Professions and Human Services) and
Amaya Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y./High School for Health Professions and Human Services). The Valiants are the most represented team on the All-Conference First Team, making up four of the seven total selections.
Sandri becomes the first Manhattanville women's tennis coach to be selected as Conference Coach of the Year since 2006 when Amy Wachenheim earned the distinction from the Skyline for the second time in three years. It is Sandri's second recognition as Coach of the Year, with him earning the distinction for his work with the men's team in 2022. Sandri helped revive the women's tennis program over the past two seasons, as the team went 0-10 across the 2022-23 academic year to hoisting the conference title and making the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history last year. This year, the Valiants went 11-1 in the regular season, the most wins in a single academic year since 2006-07. Manhattanville did not drop a match in conference play under Sandri for the first time since 2005, and earned the most conference wins in a year since 1998.
Filippelli exploded onto the scene for her freshman year, a huge piece of Manhattanville's success this year, becoming the program's first Rookie of the Year since
Bea Pretnar (Mohegan Lake, N.Y./) in 2021. She was selected as the Skyline Rookie of the Week three times over the course of the regular season and was a staple in the top doubles flight and No. 3 Singles. Filippelli went 10-2 in singles action during the regular season, seeing time in the No. 2, 3, and 4 positions. The Mastic native did not drop a match in conference play, and was just as dominant in doubles action. Partnering with
Amaya Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y./High School for Health Professions and Human Services) throughout the year, Filippelli went 9-2 in duos action, once again remaining perfect against the Skyline.
In addition to her doubles mark alongside Filippelli, the newer Ortiz sister to join the team also shined in her debut season as a Valiant. Amaya was a four-time Skyline Rookie of the Week and held down No. 1s in both singles and doubles play. Going 9-2 with Filippelli in doubles play, Amaya went 8-4 in singles action as the Valiants' top player with all of her action coming in the No. 1 position.
Doyle and
Addison-Mercedes Ortiz (Bronx, N.Y./High School for Health Professions and Human Services) repeat as First Team selections after both earning the accolade their rookie seasons a year ago. The tandem were doubles partners all year in the No. 2 position, going 11-1 as a duo. Doyle primarily saw play in the No. 2 position in singles but also played four matches in No. 1s, finishing the regular season with a 10-2 overall mark. Addison-Mercedes, meanwhile, played 11 of her 12 flights in the No. 4 slot, going 10-2 on the year.
The Valiants continued to roll as the Conference Championship Tournament got underway on Wednesday afternoon with top-seeded Manhattanville notching a 4-0 sweep of No. 4 Yeshiva. Manhattanville looks to repeat as Skyline champs on Saturday when the team plays host to No. 2 Farmingdale in the finals at 12 p.m.
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