Women's ter]nissoars to PAC Cab~ini's PAGNhopes

After several wins and outstanding records, the ladies will be making a powerful presence at the PAC tournament.

BRIAN SMITH STAFF WRITER BTS723@CABRINI.EDU

This year, Cabrini's women's tennis team is undefeated in the Pennsylvallia Athletic Conference. As of now, the women's tennis team has a record of 8-0 in the PACs, while holding a 9-4 record otherwise.

Athletes in the women's tennis team attribute their success to simple teamwork with good ethics and effort. Junior CaitHn Scott, as well as second singles, second doubles and co-captain women's tennis team member, epitomizes this viewpoint.

"Our team has been undefeated so far because of the members that make up this team.' We all may play individual matches, but ~.,. in the end we play for the common goal, the team," Scott said. "In soccer or field hockey, everyone is on the field at the same time; in tennis, it's different. We play individually, but we all make up one team. Each girl on this team has her own role to play. We are so successful because of the hard work and dedication that we all put towards this team. We all want one thing, to win PACs again. We are going to do what we need to, to get to that goal!"

Scott said.

Third singles player and freshman tennis player Lisa Rodgers also attributes the team's success to good chemistry between teammates. According to her, this team works very well together. "I just think all the girls on the team are really close, and we generally enjoy being around each other. So when you play with people that you love being with, it's easy to play well and win," Rodgers said.

The women's tennis team practices are described by freshman and first singles player Dina DiTaranto, as well as several other team members, as working towards one goal while each member works on separate individual goals, like avoiding double faulting on serves or keeping the ball "deep, not short."

"We stretch, run, warm up, and play tennis! No, it's more than that. At our practices we really get to work on shots that are vital in match play. We have different drills that work on all shots. Even though it's a tough two hours, we always find things to laugh about. My guess is we're the loudest team out there.

[We're] always talking," DiTaranto said.

DiTaranto also attributes the team's success to good teamwork, saying that each member essentially helps the other one out. "I think our team is doing an awesome job this season. I couldn't imagine being on any other team without these girls. We keep each other positive and motivated, and reflect of each other, which is key to our success in this league. We all have our own little goals throughout the season that we want to accomplish, but in the end, our main goal is that we want to remain PAC champions. Like they say, 'there's no I in team.' We win these matches together. We've had a great season so far, and hopefully, it will just keep getting better," DiTaranto said.

The women's tennis team's next game is against Marywood on Oct. 19. This game is supposedly essential to the PAC championships.

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PATRICIAJ. SHEEHAN STAFF WRITER PJS723@CABRINJ .EDU

So what are the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference championships that everyone is always buzzing about? It's a well-known fact that Cabrini has won many over the years; 50 wins over 13 years to be exact.

Cabrini has been wrapping up PAC champs ever since the conference was established in 1992. It was created for the small, private schools around eastern Pennsylvania, and Cabrini had made a prominent name for itself just in the second year of establishment.

Jeffery Falardeau, assistant director of athletics for Cabrini, gave some insight on the PAC champs and what they really mean to sports at the school.

"It consists of 12 full-time members and two associate members. Say men's soccer wins the PAC championships. They get the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament," Falardeau said.

The PAC believes that students who play in intercollegiate athletics schools like Cabrini are playing for the love of the sport. The conference also believes that these students get a further educational experience from their participation.

The PAC President's Cup Winners awards the overall ath- letic department for who wins for the men's side or who wins overall for the men's side. Cabrini has won the PAC President's Cup nine times since 1994.

Former athletic director John Dzik was one of the original founders of the PAC. By 2003, under Dzik's leadership, Cabrini had won twice as many PAC titles as any other school in the conference.

"If you think about it, over lO years, we've shared it almost every single year, and I think that's something the school should be very proud about," Falardeau said.

Cabrini has hired Elliot Tannenbaum as the new sports information director. He is in charge of the marketing scene for Cabrini athletics. It is up to Tannenbaum to get the word out about sports at Cabrini. He also keeps up the athletic program's website.

"The coaches are really amazing I don't know how they do it. For them to work full-time jobs and have families and then to come in and coach these teams and I see how the kids really respond to them. It's just a great thing to be a part of it," Falardeau said.

Falardeau thinks that women's tennis has a good shot for the PAC win this fall; they are currently undefeated. Also, women's volleyball has stood out for being such a young team.

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