LATHAM, N.Y. - The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced it's 2021 All-Conference Teams as well as its major award winners in the sport of Women's Tennis. All-Conference is composed of two teams, each with six singles winners and three doubles pairings. The conference has also awarded the Player of the Year, the Rookie of the Year and the Coach of the Year.

After an undefeated regular season in conference play, Rachael Lim of Penn State Harrisburg has been tabbed the NEAC Player of the Year. Lim dominated the court all season from the first singles position, finishing the regular season with an overall record of 3-1. In her three wins, all against NEAC opponents, the sophomore never allowed her foe to capture more than one game in a set. Paired with teammate Sydney Nye at first doubles, she was even more electric as the two won all five of their matches played. Over the course of the season, Lim was tabbed the NEAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week twice as well.

In her women's tennis debut, Cara DiCiano played phenomenal, helping her earn the title of Rookie of the Year. The Denver, Pa. native went 7-1 from the second singles flight and her only loss came in a nailbiter against Penn State Harrisburg. Aside from that match, DiCiano was able to cut through her opponents as she took nearly half of her sets played by a score of 6-0. The sophomore combined with Deanna Graber at first doubles where she continued to flaunt her skill. The pair went 6-2 on the season and 2-1 in conference action.

Coach Becky Cecere had no trouble with the transition back to the NEAC as she helped coach the Penn State Harrisburg team to the Regular Season Title. The now three-time NEAC Coach of the Year ('08-'09, '11-'12, '20-'21) guided her squad to a perfect record, both in conference (3-0) and on the season (4-0). Perhaps the manner in which she did it was even more impressive as the Lions failed to give up a point in conference play, winning all three contests by a score of 9-0. She also aided in filling nearly every 2021 First Team All-Conference flight with a Penn State Harrisburg player.

 

Player of the Year: Rachael Lim - Penn State Harrisburg

Rookie of the Year: Cara DiCiano - Lancaster Bible College

Coach of the Year: Becky Cecere - Penn State Harrisburg

 

 

All-Conference First Team

#1 Singles: Rachael Lim | Penn State Harrisburg

#2 Singles: Sydney Nye | Penn State Harrisburg

#3 Singles: Olivia Hitz | Penn State Harrisburg

#4 Singles: Gabrielle Sabatose | Penn State Harrisburg

#5 Singles: Annalisa Petrascu | Penn State Harrisburg

#6 Singles: Isabella Pizzelanti | Penn State Harrisburg

 

#1 Doubles: Deanna Graber / Cara DiCiano | Lancaster Bible College

#2 Doubles: Olivia Hitz / Isabella Pizzelanti | Penn State Harrisburg

#3 Doubles: Gabrielle Sabatose / Mary Connolly | Penn State Harrisburg

 

All-Conference Second Team

#1 Singles: Blair Eckel | Penn State Berks

#2 Singles: Cara DiCiano | Lancaster Bible College

#3 Singles: Georgia Macensky | Pennsylvania College of Technology

#4 Singles: Kenedi Berkhimer | Lancaster Bible College

#5 Singles: Marcie Harman | Pennsylvania College of Technology

#6 Singles: Chloe Campbell | Lancaster Bible College

 

#1 Doubles: Rachael Lim / Sydney Nye | Penn State Harrisburg

#2 Doubles: Madison Hetrick / Meredith Hill | Penn State Berks

3 Doubles: Brianna McMonagle / Lesley Casanas | Penn State Berks

 

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has eight NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, and Wells College. The NEAC also includes one associate member in Rutgers University – Camden (M Golf). The NEAC has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse and the North Atlantic Conference in men's tennis and women's tennis. For more information, please visit: www.neacsports.com.