ONESSA WILLIAMS OF ALBANY EARNS DIVISION III NATIONAL TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP WITH MVCC HAWKS:

15-LOVE Product Plans to Attend University at Buffalo in the Fall

ALBANY (June 5, 2003) — Onessa Williams of North Albany, a product of the Capital Region's 15-LOVE tennis program, recently won a Division III National Championship in the National Junior College Athletic Association as a member of the Mohawk Valley Community College women's tennis team. The MVCC Hawks, which defeated Riverland Community College of Minnesota 19-18 in the finals to claim the 2003 team title, traveled to College Station, TX May 8 for the contest.

Williams, 22, and her squad qualified for the national tournament with a perfect 14-0 season last fall, including Mountain Valley Conference and NJCAA Region III titles. Williams was unbeaten at the number one singles (14-0) and number one doubles (14-0) positions and was named to the All Region and All Mount Valley Conference teams. Her only defeat of the year came in the finals when she dropped a close two-set decision (5-7, 4-6) to Claudia Arteaga of Nassau Community College.

Williams, who began honing her tennis skills at the various clinics offered by 15-LOVE in 1992, will attend the University of Buffalo in the fall and plans to earn a degree in special education. She said she hopes to earn a spot on the UB Bulls women's tennis team as a walkon player.