For more than two decades the outstanding success on the courts of the Hawks women's tennis program attest to not only the longevity of 23-year tenured coach Rob Bruley, but also to his commitment to finding, mentoring and challenging young players who join his program to become the very best they can be. 
 
The 2025-26 version of the State University of New York New Paltz Women's Tennis proves just that, as the team boasts on paper maybe the most talented its ever had.
 
"Our team is very stacked this year" Says senior captain Nina Genzone. "All of the girls can play together one to eleven." said co-captain Justine Stanejko. "Not only are they really good and pushing each one of us to be even better, but they bring really good energy and are really fun!"
 
Undefeated in regular season conference play for eight consecutive seasons, 10 SUNYAC titles overall, including three straight SUNYAC championships since 2022-23, with dozens of All-SUNYAC sections, the SUNY New Patz women's tennis program is a testament to a long-standing commitment of excellence. And fittingly, in the last year within the SUNYAC, the program can add another milestone as one more championship could push them into elite company as only the second program in school history to win four-straight SUNYAC titles, joining SUNY New Paltz Field Hockey who accomplished the feat from 2012-2015.
 
"To win this fourth championship in a row would be incredible," Genzone said. "It would be insane. We'd be the second team in history at New Paltz to ever do it. So let's go! Hoping for another SUYAC in the books!"
 
Six Hawks return from the NCAA DIII second round team of a year ago including four All-SUNYAC First Team selections and the SUNYAC MVP. They are joined by four highly touted first year players and all look to capture a SUNYAC title for one last time before SUNY New Paltz enters the challenging New Jersey Athletic Conference in 2026.  
Leading the way is senior Justine Stanejko (Lakeland, NY/Solvay HS). Undefeated in both SUNYAC singles and doubles play over her career, Stanejko is three-time winner of SUNYAC's Peter J. Cahill MVP Award as well as a three-time singles and doubles champion. Also concluding her career after this season is senior Nina Genzone (Bellmore, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun HS). A 2024-25 SUNYAC First Team selection, she has a 17-2 SUNYAC doubles record.
 
Junior Olivia Kunz (New York City/Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS) was undefeated in SUNYAC singles matches and earned All-SUNYAC First Team honors in both singles and doubles play and was the SUNYAC Tournament MVP. Junior Alyssa Trokie (Rye Brook, NY/Blind Brook HS) looks to have a breakout season to round out the depth of the Hawks deep lineup.
 
Sophomores Angelica Gabriel (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool HS) and Sydney Sladicka (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro HS) opened their SUNY New Paltz careers with outstanding first seasons. Both went undefeated in SUNYAC match play and as a doubles team were undefeated in SUNYAC matches. Both earned All-SUNYAC First Team honors in singles and doubles play.
 
Four first year players bring a wealth of talent to the roster. Patrycja Filonik (Brooklyn, NY/Beacon (NYC) HS, Samantha Ostrander (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS), Lula Brown-Vann (Brooklyn, NY/Leman Manhattan Preparatory School) all were two gold star players as ranked by Tennis Recruiting Network, while Alexandra Krol (Greenvale, NY/Rosyln HS) earned Newsday All Long Island honors in doubles play and finished with a 4-1 record and fifth place finish in the New York State Girls Doubles Championship. All four will be looked to immediately step up to the demands of collegiate competition and to continue the tradition of tennis excellence that is SUNY New Paltz.
 
"Its an incredible team," Genzone said. "This is probably one of the strongest that the program has ever had."
 
The Hawks face a 20-match fall/spring schedule and will open their fall season at the Union College Tournament on September 6-7. Their five match SUNYAC schedule will begin on September 13 at Plattsburgh and conclude on September 27 at home versus Oswego. The SUNYAC Championship will be held October 17-18. Spring 2026 will see the Hawks face at least 12 opponents (weather permitting) before the first round of the NCAA DIII Championship on May 10.
 
Season Preview featuring Justine Stanejko & Nina Genzone

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