Every Monday, the Sports Information Department at Purchase will select a staff member, student-athlete or event to highlight in our #MeetEmMonday feature. Today's #MeetEmMonday is about Purchase College women's tennis senior Raquelle DeCicco!
PURCHASE, N.Y. - During a traditional year, the Purchase College women's tennis team would have already played its season during the fall semester.
However, we all know that 2020 and 2021 have been anything but traditional. That is why senior
Raquelle DeCicco and the rest of the Panthers are gearing up to play a non-traditional spring campaign next month to closeout her career and the semester.
During her first three seasons with Purchase College, DeCicco (Kingston, NY) has quickly established herself as one of the best ever in program history
As a freshman in 2017, she was named to the All-Skyline Conference First Team following an undefeated singles campaign at 11-0. In doubles action, Raquelle compiled a 7-6 mark to help lead Purchase to a 6-7 overall record and a spot in the Skyline Conference Playoffs.
At the end of the year, she also earned the distinction of being named the Skyline Conference Women's Tennis Rookie of the Year and the Purchase College Women's Rookie of the Year.
In year two, DeCicco continued her stellar play across singles and doubles action. In singles competition, Raquelle finished with a 9-4 record overall, winning eight-straight matches during the season. In doubles, she recorded a 10-3 mark and helped carry the Panthers to their best season in program history.
Behind the efforts of DeCicco and the rest of the squad, Purchase finished the year 11-2 overall, claimed the No. 1 seed in the Skyline Conference Playoffs and made the Skyline Championship Game for just the second-time ever.
Following the breakout campaign, the Panthers took a step back in 2019 with a new coach and a mostly new roster. However, one of the few highlights of that season was DeCicco, who finished with a 6-4 record in singles matches and was the only player with a record above .500.
She also performed well in doubles action throughout of the year, ending with a 5-6 record at the No. 1 spot.
As DeCicco prepares for the start of the non-traditional 2021 season, she does so as only one of two seniors on the team and the only senior who has played all four years.
In regards to the Spring 2021 campaign, Purchase will be participating in six regular-season matches over April and the first week of May, before potentially qualifying for the Skyline Conference Playoffs later on in May.
The first match of the season is scheduled for April 13th, as DeCicco and the Panthers are set to host Farmingdale State College.
