LANCASTER, Pa. - Sophomore Caitlin Gallagher became the first Haverford College women's tennis player to be voted player of the year in the Centennial Conference as the league released its 2013 all-conference squad on Friday morning. Gallagher, a first-team honoree in singles, also earned second-team honors in doubles. Junior Alex Ferrara joined Gallagher in meriting all-conference accolades as she was named to the second team in both singles and doubles.
Gallagher, a second-team all-conference member in singles and doubles last year, registered a 9-1 record in conference singles action for the second consecutive season. The sophomore won her first 14 matches at top-flight singles this spring after playing primarily at No. 2 last season. Rising to as high as No. 14 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Atlantic South Region singles rankings during the course of the season, Gallagher was named conference player of the week twice in 2013. Gallagher currently ranks third in career winning percentage (.791, 34-9) in program history, and has paced the Fords in singles victories in both years of her career. Finishing the season with a 19-4 record overall, Gallagher was dominant throughout her sophomore campaign as she captured 14 of her 19 victories in straight sets.
Ferrara added another chapter to an impressive career as she registered double figures in singles victories for the third straight season. Playing at No. 2, Ferrara finished 18-7 overall this season and her 44 career victories currently place her in a tie for 11th on the program's all-time list. The junior went 8-2 in Centennial action for the second consecutive season with all of her wins coming in straight sets. This marks the third straight season Ferrara has been named second-team all-conference in singles and doubles.
Gallagher and Ferrara joined forces for the second consecutive season to form an effective top-flight doubles pairing for the Fords. The duo went 7-3 in conference action and 15-9 overall this season. Rising to ninth in the regional doubles rankings during the course of the season, Gallagher and Ferrara finished the year ranked 14th in the Atlantic South.
Washington College's April Weaver was named the conference player of the year while Dave Woodring of Centennial champion Johns Hopins University earned coach of the year accolades.
Haverford, with the presence of Gallagher and Ferrara at the top of the lineup, went 12-7 overall and 7-3 in conference play in 2013. Registering double-digit victories for the third straight year, the Fords participated in the Centennial semifinals for the fourth time in the last five seasons.