BRISTOL, R.I. — Following a 2025-26 campaign in which it finished 15-5 overall and 8-2 in Conference of New England play, the Roger Williams University Women's Tennis team prepares to begin its 2026-27 season with three returning All-CNE singles players and an experienced senior class.
Head coach
Barry Gorman enters his 14th season leading the Hawks. Gorman has compiled a 166-63 (.724) record with the Roger Williams women's program.
Roger Williams opened last fall with 12 consecutive victories, including six 7-0 sweeps. The Hawks earned the No. 4 seed in the CNE Tournament after finishing the regular season 13-2 overall and 8-2 in conference play.
The Hawks' fall campaign concluded with a 4-0 loss to fifth-seeded Endicott in the CNE First Round. Roger Williams returned to action during the spring and went 2-2 during its trip to Florida, earning victories over Marymount and Emerson to finish the year 15-5 overall.
Three All-CNE Singles Players Return
Roger Williams returns three of the four players who earned All-CNE singles recognition last season.
Junior
Valentina Abarca (Riobamba, Ecuador) returns at the top of the Hawks' lineup after earning All-CNE Second Team Singles honors. Abarca played each of her fall matches at No. 1 singles and finished the full 2025-26 season with a 10-7 record.
Sophomore
Megan Bache (Westbrook, Conn.) returns following a strong first collegiate season. Bache earned All-CNE Third Team Singles honors after going 13-2 during the fall, including an 8-2 record in conference play.
Bache continued her success during the spring and finished the full campaign with a team-best 16-3 singles record. She went 14-3 at No. 4 singles while also earning victories at the second and third positions.
Senior
Adriana Palmieri (Southington, Conn.) also returns after earning All-CNE Third Team Singles honors. Palmieri completed an undefeated fall campaign with a 15-0 record, primarily playing at No. 5 singles.
Palmieri finished the full 2025-26 season with a 17-2 overall record and a perfect 10-0 mark in CNE singles play. She posted a 15-2 record at the fifth position while also earning victories at No. 3 and No. 4 singles.
Collectively, Abarca, Bache and Palmieri went 43-12 in singles play last season, giving the Hawks an accomplished returning group throughout the lineup.
Doubles Lineup Takes on a New Look
All three of Roger Williams' primary doubles teams earned All-CNE Third Team recognition last season.
Abarca and Bache return as an established pairing after going 9-5 at No. 1 doubles during the fall and 6-3 against CNE opponents. The pair finished the full season with an 11-6 record.
Senior
Ella Mancini (Middlebury, Conn.) also brings significant doubles experience after combining with
Izzy Pecora for an 11-3 regular-season record and All-CNE Third Team recognition. Mancini finished the full campaign with a 13-4 doubles record while also going 12-8 in singles play.
Palmieri returns after playing as part of the Hawks' No. 3 doubles pairing with
Gabrielle Petroniro. The duo went undefeated during the regular season and earned All-CNE Third Team honors.
With the graduation of Pecora and Petroniro, Roger Williams will reshape two of its primary doubles teams while returning experienced players from all three positions.
Sophomore
Claire Dwyer (Manchester, Maine) could provide additional flexibility after going 6-1 in doubles and 2-0 in singles during her first season.
Senior Leadership and New Faces
The 2026-27 roster features four seniors in
Emma Blanchard (Dayville, Conn.),
Ashlyn Keating (Ludlow, Mass.), Mancini and Palmieri.
Roger Williams also welcomes three first-year players to the program:
Scarlett Bernard (Westwood, Mass.),
Iris Gkrekou (Athens, Greece) and
Addie Lewis (Guilford, Conn.).
The newcomers join a returning group that also includes juniors
Rose Hinsdale (Galveston, Texas) and
Meghan Hughes (Watertown, Conn.).
2026-27 Schedule
The Hawks open their 2026-27 schedule with consecutive home matches, hosting Simmons on Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. and Bridgewater State on Sept. 3 at 4 p.m.
Roger Williams travels to Wheaton on Sept. 5 before returning to Bristol to host Clark on Sept. 12.
CNE play begins Sept. 15 when the Hawks welcome Gordon to the RWU Tennis Courts at 4 p.m. Gordon handed Roger Williams its first loss of last season, ending the Hawks' 12-match winning streak with a 5-2 decision.
Roger Williams travels to Suffolk on Sept. 19 before hosting Western New England on Sept. 23. The Hawks then visit the University of New England on Sept. 26 and compete in the Salve Grass Court Tournament in Newport on Sept. 27.
The Hawks travel to Endicott on Sept. 29 for a rematch of last season's CNE Tournament opener. Roger Williams defeated the Gulls, 4-3, during the 2025 regular season before Endicott earned a 4-0 victory in the conference tournament.
October begins with home matches against Salve Regina on Oct. 1 and Nichols on Oct. 3. The Nichols matchup gives the Hawks an opportunity to respond after the Bison handed Roger Williams its second regular-season loss last fall.
Roger Williams hosts Hartford on Oct. 13 before traveling to Curry on Oct. 17 and the University of Saint Joseph on Oct. 21. The Hawks close the regular season at home against Colby-Sawyer on Oct. 24 at noon.
The CNE Tournament begins with the first round on Oct. 27. The semifinals are scheduled for Oct. 29, with the conference championship set for Oct. 31.
