FIVE LADY COLONELS NAMED TO ALL-FREEDOM WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAMS; KRISTOFCO NAMED POY, CROKER ROY, LEICHT COY

5/21/2014 2:07:00 PM

FIVE LADY COLONELS NAMED TO ALL-FREEDOM WOMEN'S TENNIS TEAMS; KRISTOFCO NAMED POY, CROKER ROY, LEICHT COY

ANNVILLE, PA – Five members of the Wilkes University women's tennis team have been named to the 2014 All-Freedom Conference team as announced by the Middle Atlantic Conference office Wednesday afternoon.

Ally Kristofco (Hollidaysburg, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle), Anastasia English (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) and Kendra Croker (Old Forge, PA/Scranton Prep) were all tabbed first team selections, while Taylor Hoffmann (Huntingdon Valley, PA/Lower Moreland) garnered a second team nod and Madison Salmon (Endicott, NY/Union Endicott) an honorable mention selection. Kristofco was also named the Freedom Conference Player of the Year, Croker Rookie of the Year and head coach Chris Leicht Coach of the Year, the ninth time he has earned the honor.

Kristofco earns her first Freedom Player of the Year honor as a senior and fourth straight All-Freedom honor (third straight first team selection). After the graduation of four-time POY selection Melanie Nolt left a huge void at the top spot of the Wilkes lineup, Kristofco stepped in to finish 15-6 at the No. 1 spot going 13-5 in dual play and 6-0 in league matches. She also teamed with English to go 10-5 at No. 1 pairs. Kristofco graduates as the program's all-time leader in singles wins finishing 71-14 mostly from the No. 1 and 2 positions during her time in the Navy and Gold. She also stands first all-time in doubles wins with a 76-16 doubles mark.

English earned her first selection on the All-Freedom first team after a second team nod last season as a sophomore. She finished 17-3 overall from the No. 4 singles position in the Wilkes lineup. Teaming with Kristofco, she finished 10-5 overall from No. 1 pairs this year.

Croker continued the trend of successful Lady Colonel freshmen seasons being named to the first team and conference rookie of the year. She finished 16-5 overall from the No. 2 singles spot going 12-5 in dual play and 6-0 in league matches. She becomes the fourth Wilkes player to earn the ROY award joining Katie Lynn (2009-10), Victoria Bybel (2007-08) and Alison McDonald (2005-06) in program history.

Hoffmann also enjoyed a fine rookie campaign posting a 13-4 overall record at No. 3 singles after going 13-3 in dual play and 5-0 in conference matches. She also excelled in doubles play teaming with Croker to go 16-3 from the No. 2 position.

Salmon rounded out the Lady Colonel All-Freedom performers earning an honorable mention selection. She went 17-3 overall in singles play primarily from the No. 6 spot in the Wilkes lineup. She paired with Olivia Hewison (Port Crane, NY/Chenango Valley) to go 5-3 in a brief stint in doubles play at No. 3.

Leicht collects his ninth Freedom Coach of the Year award after guiding the women's team to a 19-3 mark remaining unbeaten in Freedom play at 6-0. The squad captured its eighth straight Freedom title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in school history.

2013-14 All-Freedom Conference Team
Player of the Year: A. Kristofco
Rookie of the Year: K. Croker
Coach of the Year: C. Leicht

First Team
K. Croker, Wilkes
A. English, Wilkes
Cassie Foy, Misericordia
Maddie Griffin, King's
A. Kristofco, Wilkes
Jenna Laubach, Eastern

Second Team
Emily Biffen, King's
Alexandra Broome, Arcadia
T. Hoffman, Wilkes
Megan Klosterman, Eastern
Sara Lynn, King's
Breanne Phillips, Misericordia

Honorable Mention
Megan Scherer, FDU-Florham
M. Solomon, Wilkes
Svetlana Widell, Stevenson

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