LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East has rolled out its mid-season Volt Division preview for the 2024 season. The Volt Division consists of six teams, with each program squaring off against one another in a 5-match conference season.
The top four teams will earn a bid to the postseason which begins on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The 1-seed will host the 4-seed while the 2-seed hosts the 3-seed with all matches being hosted on campus. Winners of those semifinal matches will advance to the Volt Division Final to be hosted at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, April 27.
The Volt Division Champion will then advance to a championship match against the Skye Division champion on Saturday, May 4, 2024 to be hosted at Hershey Racquet Club. The winner of that match will be crowned United East Champion and earn the conference’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship.
Lancaster Bible College
Devon Clemmer begins his first season as Head Coach of the Lancaster Bible College women’s tennis program in 2024 looking to make another run into the postseason. Camryn Burkholder returned after picking up First Team honors at No. 3 doubles and Second Team at No. 5 singles while sophomore Sarah Steckbeck was First Team at No. 2 singles in 2023. Sophomore Natalie Hoover was a First Team honoree with Burkholder at No. 3 doubles as well as Second Team at No. 6 singles. The Chargers open the spring season on February 24th at Elizabethtown and have non-conference matchups in Hilton Head, S.C. over spring break. United East play begins on March 30th with a match up against Penn State Harrisburg.
Coach’s Outlook: “We have a lot of returners from last year who bring experience and have continued to improve their games. I look forward to witnessing their growth from last year to this year!”
Penn College
David Straub begins his first season as the Head Coach at Penn College in the 2023-24 season with a young squad looking to see progress each match. Sophomore Lauren Peck went 3-4 playing No. 2 singles last season and partnered with classmate Ellen Buckley playing No. 1 doubles. Buckley also played No. 1 singles all season and returned for 2024. Senior Georgia Macensky returns after playing No. 2 doubles and No. 3 in singles. The Wildcats open the season with a matchup against King’s College on March 16th and have non-conference matchups with Lock Haven and Bryn Athyn in March before United East play begins on Wednesday, April 3rd at Penn State Harrisburg.
Coach’s Outlook:
Penn State Abington
Matt Levy returns an experienced squad with postseason experience in 2024 as he begins his 3rd season as Head Coach of Penn State Abington women’s tennis. Senior Elizabeth Turner plays No. 2 singles and 1st doubles and is in her second season as a team captain. Senior Elisa Steinhardt had 3 wins at No. 3 singles and a 3-1 record playing No. 2 doubles with Soniyah Youngblood in 2023. Sophomore Youngblood plays No. 4 singles and picked up 4 wins last season including 3 in conference play. Abington opens up the 2024 season with a match against Albright College and has non-conference play against Moravian, Arcadia, and Neumann throughout the spring. United East Volt Division play begins on Wednesday, April 3 with a trip to St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Coach’s Outlook: “It's an experienced group of returners along with a newcomer who is a potential Rookie of the Year candidate. The team has made the conference playoffs 10 years in a row (excluding the Covid year) and this group wants to keep that tradition going.”
Penn State Berks
Head Coach Angel Negron brings back an experienced squad in 2024 looking to take a step forward from the previous season. The Nittany Lions are led by seniors Alyssa Love, who played at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles last season while classmate Sam Hagenbush played No. 5 singles and partnered with Love at No. 2 doubles across the season. Sophomore Bel Clayton earned Player of the Week for October 18, 2022 and played No. 1 singles and doubles last season. Berks opens up the 2024 season with a weekend against McDaniel on March 23rd and Hood on March 24th. United East play begins on Saturday, March 30th at Penn College.
Coach’s Outlook:
Penn State Harrisburg
Andrew Bookman begins his first season at the helm of Penn State Harrisburg tennis in the 2024 season fresh off of the program’s appearance in the United East Championship Match last season. Sophomore Olivia Bandini earned First Team honors at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles en route to United East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. Junior Breanna DeSantis partnered with Bandini at No. 1 doubles and earned Second Team honors at No. 2 singles. Junior Sarah Shaub earned Second Team honors at No. 2 doubles last season in addition to Second Team honors at No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles in 2022. The Nittany Lions open the 2024 season at Stevenson on Saturday, February 24th before heading down to Hilton Head, S.C. for spring break matches. United East Volt Division play begins on Saturday, March 30th against Lancaster Bible College.
Coach’s Outlook: “WE ARE just looking to have some fun this season!”
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
St. Mary’s College of Maryland is looking to defend their United East championship as they begin the spring season. Head Coach Sona Brymer begins her 3rd season with an experienced squad up and down the lineup. Junior Amber Manspeaker was a First Team honoree at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles after going a combined 11-1 in conference matchups last season. Classmate Giselle Harris was a First Team honoree at No. 5 singles and Second Team at No. 3 doubles after going a combined 12-0 in conference play while Senior Ellie Walter had a 6-0 doubles record in conference last season. The Seahawks have non-conference matchups with Lynchburg, Cornell College, Maryville College, Ursinus and Salisbury before United East matches begin with Penn State Abington coming to town on Wednesday, April 3rd.
Coach’s Outlook: “Our team looks a little different than last year, but we have some strong new additions to the team. I'm confident our returners and our new additions will help us defend our conference champion title.”
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.