Maria Malerba - Women's Tennis Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Maria Malerba

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
malerbma@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-6527
Physical Address:
GODW 318 (261 Bluestone Dr.) / MSC 2301

Entering her 38th year at the helm of the JMU program, head coach Maria Malerba has compiled a 427-282 (.602) overall record at JMU.

The 2012-13 season saw the women's tennis program compile a 12-7 overall record, winning 10 of its final 13 matches, and a 3-3 record against Colonial Athletic Association competitors. The Dukes appeared in the CAA championship tournament semifinals for the first time since 2003, where they fell 4-1 to the second-seeded UNCW Seahawks. They compiled eight All-CAA honors in 2013, including Taylor Pinchoff's first team accolades for both singles and doubles play, the first Duke to achieve that feat. Katherine Bulling repeated as the JMU Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

In 2011-12, the Dukes finished with a 12-6 record after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2012 CAA Women's Tennis Championship.

Three players garnered All-CAA honors for their play in 2011-12 under Malerba's guidance. Senior Kinsey Pate was named to the All-CAA Second Team after compiling 12 victories at the No. 1 singles position. Pate was also named to the All-CAA Third Team for doubles competition with her partner, freshman Taylor Pinchoff, for going 8-6 on the season and a perfect 4-0 in CAA competition. Sophomore Jacqueline Palmucci made the All-CAA Third Team after earning a team-high 15 victories, including a 9-5 record at the No. 2 singles position and a 4-1 mark in league play.

Malerba also saw junior Katherine Bulling named to the 2011-12 Virginia Sports Information Directors' (VaSID) Academic All-State Team and earn the 2012 JMU Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

Malerba was honored as the 1997 Virginia Coach of the Year by the state district of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), and was also named the 1989-90 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Coach of the Year after guiding the Dukes to a best-ever 20-4 season record.

During her tenure, JMU has produced NCAA national qualifiers (1986, 1987, and 2000) as well as members of the CAA All-Conference team. Academically, JMU has been recognized as an ITA All-Academic Team (3.2 cumulative grade-point average) in 1997, '98, '00, '03, '05, and '06 as well as producing 22 Academic All-Americans (3.5 cumulative grade-point average).

Malerba received a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1976 from William and Mary, and served as captain and number two singles player for the Tribe. She also holds a master's degree in physical education from JMU ('78).