1998 Season Outolook

August 21, 1998

Providence College Head Coach Carl LaBranche promises that this year's women's tennis team will be exciting. Although the squad may have some ups and downs in 1998-99, LaBranche believes this season will mark a renaissance for the PC women's team. His goal is to once again have the Providence College women's team ranked in Region I.

In order to improve the program, the Friars will need strong play in the No. 1 and 2 singles positions. Junior Jesse LeMasters (Cincinnati, Ohio), sophomore Alison Carton (Millburn, N.J.) and freshmen Brooke Rubin (Cranston, R.I.) and Lindsey Gillooly (Stoughton, Mass.) will all battle for the top two singles spots and will fill out the top four positions in the lineup. LeMasters has posted a 32-20-1 mark in her two years at PC. As a freshman, she played in the No. 1 spot and last season recorded a 18-9 record at No. 2 singles. Carton had a highly successful rookie season. Last year, she registered a 20-10 mark in the No. 1 singles position and became the first member of the women's team to record 20 wins in a season. Her play will be instrumental to the team's success. Rubin, a two-time Rhode Island state champion, is a strong player who could have an immediate impact for the Friars. She has been ranked in the top 100 in the U.S. and the top five in New England. Gillooly has been very competitive in N.E.L.T.A. action. Although she is coming off an injury, she is an excellent athlete and should be ready to help the squad.

Senior Katie Burke (Madison, Conn.), junior Kim Bergin (Winchester, Mass.) and freshman Gina Vlasek (Atlanta, Ga.) will make the Friars very competitive at No. 5 and 6 singles positions. Burke, who will serve as the team captain, brings excellent leadership qualities to the team as a senior. In three seasons at PC, she has registered a 29-26-1 record. Bergin had a strong sophomore season for the Friars, recording a 14-10-2 record. Vlasek comes to Providence with a complete full court game. She has the talent to compete in the lineup for the Friars.

Also hoping to contribute to the team this season are freshmen Katie Enscoe (Marblehead, Mass.), Katie Lafayette (Norwich, Conn.) and Jennifer D'Ambrosio (Fall River, Mass.). Enscoe is an experienced N.E.L.T.A. player with a strong forehand. Lafayette is a newcomer to tournament and circuit play, but is an excellent athlete and should improve with experience. D'Ambrosio was the No. 1 singles player at Durfee High School and could contribute as the season progresses.

The 1998-99 Providence College women's tennis team will be exciting and youthful. With the possibility of having four freshmen, a sophomore and a junior in the lineup, the Friars will gain experience and competitiveness required to boost the program back into the Region I rankings and move up in the BIG EAST.

Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at Bryant Invitational on September 13, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at Holy Cross Invitational on September 27, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis versus Assumption on October 7, 2025 at 3:45 P.M.

Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at ITA Regionals (at Harvard) on October 9, 2025

Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at URI Invitational on October 25, 2025

Providence College Athletics

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