The
2004 women’s tennis team is the fourth Team of Distinction to be inducted into the Alfred University Athletics Hall of Fame, joining the 1971 undefeated football team inducted in 2021, the 1988 women’s soccer team who was the first women’s team to make the NCAA Tournament in AU history and was inducted in 2022, and the undefeated 1983-84 men’s swimming & diving team that finished second in upper New York State and was eighth in the nation at the NCAA Championships and was inducted in 2023.
The women’s tennis team went a perfect 12-0 and 8-0 in Empire 8 action. It was the program’s first undefeated season and first Empire 8 Championship title. The Saxons entered the E8 tournament as the No. 2 seed, battled to the finals to face No. 1 seeded Ithaca College and won the title with a 5-4 score. They outscored their opponents, 72-24 throughout the year and outside of the New York State Championship Tournament where they finished 11th out of 16 teams.
The 12 wins held as a school record until this past season when the 2023-24 women’s tennis team went 13-3.
Alicia Ballard held the school record for career singles wins with 43 when she graduated in 2005.
Katie Calfee then broke it and currently holds the record of 44 upon the time of induction into the Hall of Fame.
Jodi Butterfoss is No. 3 with 39. Ballard also held the singles wins in a season record when she graduated, but has since been broken. Butterfoss tied the record during the 2004 season while Calfee tied it in 2006. Butterfoss and Calfee both held the career doubles wins record after they had graduated.
The trio also is 1-2-3 for total wins for a career as Calfee totaled 74 wins, Ballard won 71 matches and Butterfoss finished her career with 69 victories.
The 2004 Saxons featured three athletes that would go on to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.
Alicia (Ballard) Cordle ’05 was inducted in 2015,
Katie Calfee ’08 was inducted in 2019 and
Jodi (Butterfoss) Dobmeier ’08 earned induction in 2022. Ballard repeated as the Empire 8 Player of the Year after she earned the accolade in 2003 while Calfee was the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year in 2004. Head Coach
Brian Friedland earned Empire 8 Coach of the Year honors.
Ballard earned New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Second Team All-Star while Butterfoss and Calfee earned Honorable Mention.
Members of the 2004 women's tennis team (and their Hall of Fame inductions years) are:
- Alicia Ballard (2015)
- Janice Brooks
- Jodi Butterfoss (2022)
- Katie Calfee (2019)
- Kelly Donohoe
- Jamie Drooz
- Beth Harris
- Charice Pastor
- Emily Salzberg
- Corrine Wakeman
- Desiree Woods
- Renee LaPorte
Head Coach: Brian Friedland
Athletic Director: Jim Moretti (1982)
Team Captain: Alicia Ballard
Seniors: Alicia Ballard, Janice Brooks, Beth Harris
The 2004 Women's Tennis Schedule and Results were:
9/9/04, at Elmira College, W 8-1
9/11/04, at Penn State Behrend Tournament
- Fredonia, W 5-0
- Penn State Behrend, W 3-2
- Bethany College, W 4-1
9/13/04, vs. RIT, W 8-1
9/18/04, at Hartwick College, W 7-2
9/23/04, vs. Fredonia, W 8-1
9/25/04, vs. St. John Fisher College, W 6-3
10/2/04, at Nazareth College, W 5-4
10/9-10/04, at Empire 8 Championships in Rochester, NY
- No. 7 Elmira College, W 7-2
- No. 3 Nazareth College, W 6-3
- No. 1 Ithaca College, W 5-4
10/15/04 at New York State Championships at Cornell University
