Benjamin S. Bucca, Jr. Head Coach-Women’s Tennis Dear Prospect: Thank you for your interest in Rutgers University and our women’s tennis program. Rutgers is the State University of New Jersey. Since the first students stepped onto campus in 1766, Rutgers has been a place that embraces the joy of learning. With more than 100 majors and 4,000 courses, Rutgers will provide you with an academic experience that will allow you to explore your interests and discover your place in the world! Rutgers’ membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities, along with Harvard, Princeton, Michigan and Stanford, amongst others, is recognition of the outstanding academic and research opportunities available at Rutgers. In intercollegiate athletics, Rutgers is a member of the BIG EAST Conference. With our fall tournament schedule and spring BIG EAST team schedule, you will have the opportunity to play against some of the best college competition in the country. Practices are organized and emphasize not only tennis and physical fitness training, but also mental and emotional training. Our goal is to provide a challenging environment that never loses focus of the fact that playing tennis on a college team is fun!! Participation on the team is more than just practicing forehands and backhands. Academics are emphasized as our team has consistently earned an ITA All Academic Team distinction. Unique community service programs have brought recognition and distinction. This exciting and challenging opportunity will promote your continued development as a tennis player, as a student, and as a person!! I look forward to hearing from you.
Ben Bucca, Jr. Women’s Tennis Coach Rutgers University
Mailing Address: Rutgers Athlectic Center, 83 Rockafeller Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 Phone: (732)445-7832 • Fax: (732)445-4623 E-mail: bbucca@scarletknights.com
WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAM GIVES BACK
The Rutgers women’s tennis team has always looked to make an impact in the community and this year has been no different. For this year’s Presidential election, the entire team gathered and voted as a team. Additionally Caitlin Baker was appointed by the Mayor of the City of New Brunswick to the Rent Control Board. Both are great examples of how getting involved in the community can be very rewarding.
“The team really felt great after voting and I know Caitlin is very excited to be a voting member of the Rent Control Board,” said head coach Ben Bucca. “I am very proud of the team for putting their political consciousness into action.” The team also donated tennis balls to the Alexander Graham Bell Society for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired. The team donated over 500 tennis balls this year. The tennis balls are used to eliminate noise interference for deaf children with Cochlear Implants. The balls are placed on the legs of desks and chairs in classrooms to minimize the scratching created by furniture movement.
Gary Kirsch, president of the Alexander Graham Bell Society, and his daughter, Emma, came to the Rutgers Tennis courts to demonstrate Cochlear Implant technology and to give the team the opportunity to meet Emma, who is deaf. With the help of the tennis balls, Emma is able to attend public school in Piscataway, NJ. The team has also developed a partnership with Dr. Michael Nissenblatt and the Challah Bread Foundation. Members of the team help deliver challahs to cancer patients on the oncology floor at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Additionally, the team participates with area youth in promoting the great game of tennis!
According to Coach Ben Bucca, these and other community service projects add another valuable dimension to the experience of participating on the Rutgers Women’s Tennis Team. In his words: “Playing on this team is really a vehicle for these young women to find their special place in the world.”
Rutgers Women’s Tennis Schedule
Rutgers Tennis Facilities Fri., Sat., Sun. Sept. 25-27
Brown Invitational
Tues., Oct. 20
Fall 2009
Providence, R.I.
Sat., Sun., Mon. Oct. 10-12
USTA Invitational
Queens, N.Y.
Fri., Sat., Sun. Oct. 23-25
Columbia
ITA Regional
New York, N.Y.
New Haven, Conn. Spring 2010
The main tennis facility for the Rutgers University Women’s Tennis Team is our outdoor tennis complex and adjacent tennis house. The tennis house is used for all team meetings and is also where video analysis takes place. In addition, indoor courts are located in the oncampus Tennis Center.
Strength training and conditioning is overseen by both the coaching staff and a full-time strength coach. Conditioning takes place not only on the court, but also in Rutgers’ state-ofthe-art, fitness/strength training facilities.
Mental and emotional training are important components of our program. Players benefit from training techniques that promote concentration, enhance emotional control and foster appropriate relaxation – all geared towards enhancing on-court intensity and competitiveness.
Rutgers is… • A member of the Association of American Universities, which recognizes outstanding academic and research programs and includes 63 universities, among them Harvard, Princeton, Duke and Michigan
• Ranked consistently as one of the top state universities in the country, with a mission devoted to providing outstanding academic and athletic opportunities • A university with an average student to teacher ration of 15:1, which creates an academic environment in which students have to opportunities of a small college with a large university setting • Filled with Scholar-Athletes, including members of the Rutgers Women’s Tennis Team
Sun., Jan. 31 Thur., Feb. 4 Fri., Feb. 12 Sun., Feb. 14 Sat., Feb. 20 Sun., Feb. 21 Thur., Feb. 25 Sun., March 7 Wed., March 10 Sun., March 114 Mon., March 15 Wed., March 17 Thur., March 25 Sat., March 27 Wed., March 31 Tues., April 6 Sat., April 10 Sun., April 11 Thur., April 15 Sat., April 17 Thur., April 22 Fri., April 23
Syracuse FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON Lehigh Maryland Binghamton Cornell GEORGETOWN ARMY VILLANOVA Towson State Barry Nova Southeastern Princeton PITTSBURGH Connecticut Seton Hall DePaul Marquette ST. JOHN’S WEST VIRGINIA Pittsburgh (BIG EAST Champ.) USF (BIG EAST Champ.)
Syracuse, N.Y. RU Tennis Complex Bethlehem, Pa. College Park, Md. Ithaca, N.Y. Ithaca, N.Y. RU Tennis Complex RU Tennis Complex RU Tennis Complex Miami, Fla. Miami, Fla. Miami, Fla. Princeton, N.J. RU Tennis Complex Storrs, Conn. South Orange, N.J. Milwaukee, Wis. Milwaukee, Wis. RU Tennis Complex RU Tennis Complex Notre Dame, Ind. Notre Dame, Ind.
BOLD CAPS indicate home matches
Meet Your Teammates Arlak, Baker, Tran, Zhang, Holzberg, Ivey, Milchutskey, Slatnick, Green Head Coach Benjamin S. Bucca, Jr. A native of central New Jersey, Ben Bucca is entering his eighth season as head coach of the Rutgers Women’s Tennis program. Coach Bucca has guided his teams to tremendous success both on the court and in the classroom, while also spearheading community service projects carried out by team members. Coach Bucca has led the Scarlet Knights to BIG EAST Tournament berths in six of the last seven seasons, posting an overall record of 89-68 (.567). Additionally, the team has garnered ITA All-Academic honors the past four years in a row. The program is ranked #1 in the country for the NCAA APR (Academic Progress Rate) with a perfect 1000 score.
In seven years, Coach Bucca has gained membership on two of the most prestigious National Collegiate Tennis Committees. Bucca is a member of the Division I Operating Committee for the ITA and the USTA Collegiate Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Eastern Tennis Association.
In 2009, the Scarlet Knights completed one of the most successful seasons in program history. Rutgers finished 16-6, 10-4 in BIG EAST action, earning a berth in the BIG EAST Tournament. The squad finished fourth overall, as Amy Zhang earned an All-BIG EAST selection. RU ended the season ranked 15th in the ITA East Regional Rankings.
Coach Bucca resides in New Brunswick with his wife, Christine, and their two children, Ben and Annie.
Christine Tran
Year: Senior Major: Journalism and Media Studies, English Hometown: Centreville, Va.
Katherine Arlak
Caitlin Baker
Amy Zhang
Jennifer Holzberg
Year: Sophomore Major: Business Hometown: Easton, Conn.
Morgan Ivey
Maryana Milchutskey
Leonora Slatnick
Michelle Green
Year: Senior Major: Journalism and English Hometown: Leonia, N.J.
Year: Junior Major: Computer Science Hometown: Plano, Texas
Year: Sophomore Major: Communication Hometown: Holmdel, N.J.
Volunteer Coach Geralyn Molinari
Geralyn Molinari has been a volunteer assistant coach with the Scarlet Knights for 11-plus years. During her time as a Scarlet Knight, she was the first RU tennis player to be ranked nationally in both doubles and singles. A two-time captain during her tenure at Rutgers, she was named team Most Valuable Player in 1986 and 1988.
After graduating from Douglass College in 1988, Molinari went to Penn State University to earn her Masters Degree in Health Education in 1990. She is employed full time as a Program Manager with the New Jersey Department of Human Services. She enjoys the opportunity to offer guidance and support to the Rutgers women's tennis team. She has two sons, Matthew and Robert, who are also avid fans of the Rutgers team.
Year: Senior Major: Criminal Justice Hometown: Altoona, Pa.
Year: Sophomore Major: Cell Biology and Neuroscience Hometown: Austin, Texas
Year: Sophomore Major: Undeclared Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Year: Freshman Major: Undeclared Hometown: Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Assistant Coach Alexandra Arlak Alexandra Arlak is in her fourth season as the assistant coach of the Rutgers women’s tennis team. Additionally, she is a tennis instructor and Head of Client Relations for P.D.L. Tennis in Haworth, where she teaches tennis skills and methods to children age 9-17.
In 2002, Coach Arlak earned All-Ivy League Second Team honors for her doubles play at Brown University. She was named the team Most Valuable Player in 2004. At Leonia High School, Coach Arlak was a nationally ranked junior player who earned All-State and All-County honors.