Softball and men's tennis preseason polls released by NECC
BOSTON, MA - The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) released a pair of spring preseason polls this week, as Wheelock College has been predicted to finish fifth in men's tennis and eighth in softball. Five NECC squads compete in men's tennis, while all nine of the league's institutions field softball programs.
Softball begins its initial campaign under head coach Julie Fox, who brings four years of head coaching experience from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to a team that tied Southern Vermont College for eighth in the NECC last season. Wheelock begins its schedule on March 25 with a doubleheader at Mount Ida College.
A two-time all-conference selection, senior Nicole Zina (Bristol, RI/Our Lady of Fatima) led the Wildcats in batting (.381), slugging (.556), on-base percentage (.473), hits (24), runs (15), runs batted in (20), doubles (9) and bases on balls (11) in 2010. As a hurler, she made 10 starts while posting six complete games. Junior Nicole Perullo (Revere, MA/Revere) made 11 starts in the circle and hit .372 in limited at bats, while classmate Sarah Negron (Northbridge, MA/Northbridge) batted .298.
Men's tennis went 2-6 in the league in 2010 and will be guided by first-year head coach Emilio Zamalloa. Wheelock finished ahead of Newbury College in last spring's NECC standings and starts its 2011 campaign on March 26 at league counterpart Lesley University.
Senior Wilson Chang (Lee, MA/Lee), a 2010 all-conference singles player and a 2008 all-league doubles honoree, picked up seven total victories last season while occupying the top singles and doubles slots. His doubles partner, junior Bobby Venning (Greenfield, NH/ConVal Regional), earned four triumphs in the second position while adding four more alongside Lee during doubles play. Senior Lauren Webber (Falmouth, MA/Falmouth) notched a pair of doubles wins for a squad that has five men and five women on its roster.
