Colby College women's tennis players Sara Hughes (South Burlington, Vt.) and Allison Dunn (Tucson, Ariz.) each earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-America honors.

Hughes and Dunn both earned their honors for doubles play. The pair met two All-America criteria by finishing in the top 10 in the final national doubles rankings and winning a match at the National Small College Championships. Hughes earned All-America honors for the third straight year, while Dunn is an All-American for the first time.

Dunn and Hughes were runners-up at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) New England Championships this fall. The pair then placed third at the ITA National Small College Championships in Florida in October. The Colby duo finished the year ranked 10th in Division III in doubles, while Hughes was 17th nationally in singles play.

Hughes, who graduated from Colby in May, and Dunn had a doubles record of 17-7 this past season. Hughes was 29-15 overall (singles and doubles) and Dunn, who will be a junior this fall, was 28-14.

Hughes had a 79-34 overall record the past three years, including 32 wins during her sophomore season when she earned All-America doubles honors with Britt Palmedo '03 and was the Co-NESCAC Player of the Year. Hughes and Palmedo finished a school-best ninth in the country in doubles in 2003.

Dunn is 51-30 in her two years at Colby.

Hughes and Dunn qualified for doubles play last year, but Dunn was unable to attend the tournament. Hughes played in singles competition and lost in the second round. Hughes finished 14th in the country in the final Division III singles rankings, while Dunn and Hughes were 16th nationally in doubles.

With just one senior lost to graduation, the Colby women¹s tennis team should be strong in 2004-05.

The Mules went 6-3 in their spring schedule last year and return all of their top players. Sara Hughes ¹05 is one of the top Division III players in the country and is a regular at the NCAA tourney. She finished last year ranked 14th nationally in singles play and has a 50-19 overall record over the past two seasons. Hughes was the Co-NESCAC Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Allison Dunn ¹07 led the Mules with a 23-16 record last year, including a fine 13-7 record in singles play. Dunn, with Hughes studying abroad in the fall semester, had to play the tough No. 1 singles position during the fall and was at No. 2 during the spring. Hughes and Dunn combined for a 7-3 record in first doubles play and ended the year ranked 16th in Division III.

Lauren Uhlmann ¹06 won 17 matches last year and Paige Hanzlik ¹05 finished with an 11-9 record. Christina Pluta ¹05 and Anna Erdheim ¹06 each won nine overall matches.

About Alfond-Wales Tennis Courts