Samantha Miller was selected to the 2011 and 2012 NJAC All-Doubles Teams.
A proud part of William Paterson’s athletics history, the Pioneer women’s tennis program played its first varsity matches in 1970.
Prior to 1970, women’s tennis was a club sport at William Paterson. When a group of players asked Dr. Virginia Overdorf to schedule some matches against other schools, the varsity program was born, with Overdorf as its first coach. During that first season, the Pioneers posted a 5-2 record.
During Overdorf’s tenure, William Paterson became one of the state’s finest programs, often defeating such Division I opponents as Rutgers and Princeton. The Pioneers won several regional tournaments, qualifying for national events while ranking near the top of The Star-Ledger’s weekly rankings.
Among the many individual highlights was Nancy Sharkey’s national second-place finish in 1984, earning her all-America laurels while helping Overdorf secure accolades as the national coach of the year.
Dawn Olsen won the 1984 New Jersey State All-Divisions Tournament, while the trio of Kathleen Heron, Kris (Sandbo) Stapp and Marla Zeller each earned a place in the William Paterson University Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame thanks to their stellar play. Zeller was particularly impressive, finishing her career with a 52-3 record, primarily playing at first singles.
The William Paterson women’s tennis program was discontinued in 1989, but was revived as a club team in 2003. The Pioneers returned to varsity status in 2004, playing at the newly-renovated William Paterson Tennis Courts, and posted a 4-5 record to begin a promising new era of women’s tennis at William Paterson.
