It's the time of the year that 25-year coach Rob Bruley and his State University of New York at New Paltz women's tennis teamwork toward each and every season — the annual SUNYAC Women's Tennis Championship Tournament.
 
The longest serving SUNYAC women's tennis coach has guided the Hawks to their fifth No. 1 seed in the tournament since 2018. His 2022-23 group swept through the regular season SUNYAC competition with a 7-0 record, losing just three games in three of seven matches. SUNY New Paltz will take on fourth seeded SUNY Geneseo in the tournament semifinal round Friday at 1 p.m. at the Binghamton Tennis Center. In regular season play, the Hawks defeated the Knights, 9-0. SUNY New Paltz seeking its eighth championship title, will be looking to return to the winner's circle after losing a heartbreaker finale to Oneonta 5-4 in 2022.
 
The Hawks boast an overall record of 11 wins and four losses for the year, with a 7-1 fall record and a 4-4 spring record, with two of the losses against NCAA DII universities.
 
Five individuals for SUNY New Paltz were undefeated in SUNYAC play, led by senior Onalee Batcheller (Westhampton Beach HS/Westhamton Beach NY). Batcheller was a two time All SUNYAC First Team selection (singles, doubles) in 2022; in SUNYAC competition she was 7-0 in both second singles and second doubles. First year Justine Stanejko (Solvay HS/ Lakeland, NY) showed what the future of Hawks tennis will be. At first singles and doubles, partnering with junior Loretta Donovan, she posted 7-0 SUNYAC marks. Donovan (Bethlehem Central HS/Delmar, NY), a 2022 Second Team All SUNYAC pick, was also 7-0 playing both third and fourth singles. Graduate student Alex Chimenti (Smithtown HS West/Smithtown, NY) finished her SUNYAC career with a 3-0 mark at fifth singles. Another promising first year, Nina Genzone (Sanford H. Calhoudn HS/Bellmore, NY) was 3-0 at fifth singles. Sophomore Amirah Alston (Promise Academy/ New York, NY) went 6-1 at fourth and fifth singles.
 
In SUNYAC doubles play, the Hawks lost only one set through seven matches with Stanejko/ Donovan at 7-0 and Batcheller, partnering with four different players, also at 7-0, leading the way.
 
The Hawks will be looking to junior Tatiana Barnett (St. Mary's HS/Port Washington, NY), the 2019 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year and two-time first team All-SUNYAC select at singles and doubles, and sophomore Isabel van der Veen (Niskayuna HS/Niskayuna, NY) to come up big during the tournament. Both have shown excellent form throughout the season.