SKILLMAN, N.J. (June 8) – California University of Pennsylvania graduate student
Helena VanEysendeyk (Meythet, France/Zurich International) was recently selected an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American in singles play. She is the first player in school history to earn All-America honors in singles play twice in a career.
VanEysendeyk finished her college career as the second-ranked singles player in the nation in the final ITA rankings. The Vulcans’ top player finished the season with a 26-2 overall record and 17-1 mark in dual play.
In her three-year career, VanEysendeyk compiled an astounding 92-7 record (.929), listing first on the school’s all-time wins list. She is a two-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Athlete of the Year selection and won the ITA East Regional Singles Championship in each of the last two years.
Her three career All-America honors ties former doubles partner Inga Chilingaryan for the most in Cal U tennis history.
VanEysendeyk helped lead the Vulcans to three-consecutive PSAC Team Championships – a first in program history.
In doubles, VanEysendeyk and doubles partner freshman
Alina Stanila (Alexandria, Romania/Technical) finished as the 16th-ranked tandem in the nation. The duo concluded the 2008-09 season with a 21-4 overall record behind a 12-match win streak near the end of the year.
Stanila concluded her freshman campaign as the 42nd-ranked singles player in the country. She posted a 28-5 mark in singles action and was named the ITA Atlantic Region and PSAC West Rookie of the Year.
Final regional rankings were also released recently by the ITA as the 15th-ranked Vulcans finished first as a team in the Atlantic Region after mounting a 23-3 overall record and 7-2 mark against nationally-ranked opponents.
Individually, VanEysendeyk and Stanila were ranked first and second, respectively, while sophomore
Nina Kowalski (Hofheim, Germany/Man Taunus) was listed sixth. Fellow sophomore
Galina Vishnikina (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Sport Military) finished as the eighth-ranked singles player.
In doubles, VanEysendeyk and Stanila ranked first followed by Kowalski and Vishnikina. Freshman
Axelle Fernandez (Nice, France/Institut Familial) and sophomore
Laurie Navarro (Eysus, France/Jules Supervielle) registered seventh on the list.