As the College of Staten Island women’s tennis team prepares for the semifinal round of the CUNYAC Tournament, the squad received good tidings this week, with the naming of three individuals to its all-star team, it was announced today. Juniors Sabrina Bragerton-Nasert and Madiha Mulla joined sophomore Nozima Toshpulatova as first-team all-CUNYAC selections, and Bragerton-Nasert doubled on the conference’s first-ever all-sportsmanship team. Brooklyn ace Yuliya Orkis took the conference’s Player of the Year honor while Hunter College’s Julia Vranas earned Rookie of the Year honors. Hunter head coach Erienne Gale won CUNYAC Coach of the Year while Lehman College’s Lynessa George earned the conference’s top sportsmanship award.
It would have been hard to deny the three deserving Dolphins top billing this year, as all three have put in spectacular campaigns. Few in the conference have been better than Bragerton-Nasert, who has posted an 11-1 overall singles record to accompany her perfect 12-0 record in doubles. Bragerton-Nasert has won her last six singles matches, and when she has had to play No. 1, she’s earned a 2-0 record. Bragerton-Nasert has done most of her doubles damage alongside fellow all-star Mulla, as the duo have gone 11-0 this year, with 10 of those wins coming in the No. 2 position. Mulla was almost perfect in singles play as well, sporting an impeccable 10-1 overall record, with a majority of her work coming in the No. 4 position.
In the pole position for the first time in her career, sophomore Toshpulatova has impressed, sporting a 6-2 record in singles, all in the No. 1 position, which includes a 5-1 record in CUNYAC play. Toshpulatova also sports a 6-4 record in doubles play, teaming a majority of the time with fellow sophomore Michelle Kushnir. Included in that record is a 5-4 clip in the No. 1 position and the tandem have won three straight.
For the first-time ever, the CUNYAC announced an all-sportsmanship team, consisting of one individual from each CUNYAC school that has served as an ambassador for sportsmanship and fair play to the highest standards in 2014. Bragerton-Nasert was selected as CSI’s representative.
CSI whizzed by No. 7 York College in quarterfinal play on Sunday, 5-0, advancing to the semifinals where they will face off against No. 3 Brooklyn College, scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, at 5pm, at the National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY. The match is a rematch of last year’s CUNYAC final, and the winner will face the winner of a Hunter vs. Baruch College semifinal on Sunday, October 26, at 4pm at the same venue.
Tickets are FREE for all spectators but are required for entry. They are available through walk-up at the venue but advanced ticketing is suggested by visiting the CUNYAC ticket exchange here.
