Joe Kissel Picked USTA Middle States College Coach of the Year

Women's Tennis | 1/24/2018 12:00:00 AM

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The latest accomplishments for Goldey-Beacom's women's tennis team was more than enough for coach Joe Kissel to be named the United States Tennis Association Middle States College Coach of the Year.

This year's honor for Kissel was picked among coaches from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It is his third straight award from the UTSA as the two previous were from the Delaware District.

The award will be presented during a brunch February 25 in Wilmington, DE.

It was yet another solid calendar year for the Lightning, starting with the team competing in the NCAA Tournament a second straight year. After the squad won the 2016 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference title in the fall, the team in the spring upended Southern New Hampshire in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling in a hard-fought match at 44th-ranked Queens.

Goldey-Beacom (14-4, 7-0 CACC) at season's end closed third in the East Region, saw three of its players regionally ranked, recorded its best conference record in team history, was the top seed in the CACC Tournament for the first time and its 11-0 start was the best in team annals.

In addition, senior Nina Sengl was picked third team CoSIDA Academic All-America and was the College's nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year.

The calendar year provided more heroics as the Lightning won a second straight CACC crown to clinch their seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament. GBC (11-0) matched its best start in team history by upending Wilmington (DE), 5-3, in the conference final to mark the third straight year it played for the league crown.

Kissel was rewarded for this in being tabbed CACC Coach of the Year for the fourth time. He also saw three of his players named all-league and Fredrika Regner (Langaryd, Sweden) picked the conference's Rookie of the Year.

Goldey-Beacom ended 2017 with four of its players ranked in the East Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. After the calendar flipped to 2018, the Lightning found out they are ranked second in the East.

Kissel has amassed a 127-66 mark in 12 seasons. His USTA honor in 2015 came on the heels of the Lightning going a school-record 18-5, winning an NCAA Tournament match and ending the season ranked 31st in the country.

It is Kissel's fourth honor from the USTA as he was picked the 2009 United States Tennis Association Middle States Delaware District Community Tennis Coach of the Year.

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Players Mentioned

Fredrika Regner: 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Fredrika Regner
: 5' 7"; Freshman