BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Highlighted by conference rookie of the year Madeline Von Ruden, the Bridgewater State University Bears placed four student-athletes on the 2021 Little East Women's Tennis All-Conference Team which was announced today by LEC Associate Commissioner, Darryl Konicki.

A native of Ashley Falls, Massachusetts, Von Ruden is the first BSU women's tennis rookie of the year since the Little East began sponsoring the award in 2008. The Ashley Falls, Massachusetts native was also named to the All-Little East First Team for singles competition and joined sophomore doubles partner Abigail Ramer on the All-Little East Second Team.

Graduate student Olivia Sweeney joined Von Ruden from Bridgewater State on the All-Little East First Team in singles play, while senior Vanessa Rosa (Taunton, Mass.) was named to the All-Little East Second Team for singles competition.

Von Ruden posted a 7-7 singles record (4-3 LEC) and a 9-7 doubles mark (5-3 LEC) competing exclusively out of the top flight in both during her first season of collegiate tennis. Von Ruden paired with the Sherwood, Oregon native Ramer 15 times at the top doubles fight as the duo recorded an 8-7 record with four wins over Little East opponents.

Sweeney, who hails from Taunton, Massachusetts, posted an 11-3 record in singles play in 2021 including a 6-2 mark against LEC foes. In four seasons with the Bears, Sweeney produced an overall singles record of 35-25 (20-13 LEC) as well as a 34-15 mark in doubles competition (20-6 LEC).

Rosa notched a 9-3 record in singles play this season with a 5-2 mark against Little East opposition. In four seasons with the Bears, the Taunton, Massachusetts product produced an overall singles record of 24-18 (16-8 LEC) as well as a 29-17 mark in doubles competition (17-7 LEC).

Von Ruden, Ramer, Sweeney and Rosa are all making their first appearance on the All-Little East Team.

Under the guidance of head coach Dave Purpura (6th Year), the BSU women's tennis team went 13-3 in 2021 and finished second in the Little East standings with a 7-1 conference record. The Bears fashioned together an 11-match winning streak before dropping a 5-1 decision to top-seeded Rhode Island College in the Little East Tournament championship match.

2021 Little East Conference Women's Tennis All-Conference Team (PDF)