Joy Graeff begins her 13th season as the head coach of the LVC women's tennis team in 2021-22. Graeff was promoted to head coach in 2009 following the retirement of long-time coach Cliff Myers, after serving as an assistant with the program since 2000.
LVC enjoyed a spectacular 2021 season finishing with a 10-2 overall record and 5-1 in conference play. The Dutchmen advanced to their second MAC Commonwealth Championship game in three seasons but fell 5-4 to newcomer York (Pa.) in the final match. Graeff coached four All-MAC Commonwealth performers with Nicole Honrade and Jacquelyn McBride earning first-team honors and Meridyth Sanders and Meredith Haas being named to the second-team.
The Dutchmen were 3-5 in 2019-20 with a majority of the contests occurring in the Fall portion of the season. LVC was picked first in the MAC preseason coaches' poll before the season was cut short due to COVID-19.
Graeff guided the Dutchmen to seven wins in 2018-19 and LVC made it back to the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal round. The Dutchmen had one player, Melanie Haas, named to the MAC Commonwealth's Second Team after Haas compiled five wins in singles action and six in doubles play, both at the No. 1 spots.
The 2017-18 campaign saw Graeff lead Lebanon Valley to just the second conference championship in program history. The victory was a role reversal of the 2017 conference title match that saw the top-seeded Dutchmen edged by Messiah. This time around, LVC clinched the program's first conference crown since 2009 and earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Under Graeff's tutelage, four players earned all-conference recognition in Sammy Bost (1T), Marla Scacchitti (2T), Megan Williams (2T), and Melanie Haas (HM). Bost was also named Academic All-MAC for her efforts.Â
In 2016-17, LVC finished a perfect 7-0 in MAC Commonwealth play and claiming the top seed in the 2017 MAC Commonwealth Championship Tournament. The Dutchmen made a run to the conference title match for the ninth time in program history after Graeff recorded her 100th career victory during the postseason. Top singles and doubles player Marla Scacchitti earned all-conference honors and Graeff was named the MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year for the second time.Â
The 2014-15 campaign saw Graeff lead the Flying Dutchmen to their eighth consecutive MAC Commonwealth championship match after securing home court advantage throughout the conference’s postseason tournament. Under her tutelage, four players earned all-conference honors and Mary Kate Lemon won the 100th match of her career.
The 2013 MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year has led LVC to the MAC Commonwealth final in each of her six seasons. In 2012-13, Graeff coached three all-conference players as the Dutchmen earned their sixth consecutive finals appearance, and she followed it up in 2013-14 with four all-conference picks and another finals berth. Her 2013-14 team became the first in LVC history - in any sport - to put its entire starting line-up on the MAC Academic Honor Roll for outstanding academic achievement.
In her first season at the helm, Graeff replaced four departed starters and guided a young Dutchmen squad back to the MAC Commonwealth championship tournament final. She coached the program’s first two-time MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year, Sarah Grodzinski, who graduated as the program’s all-time leader in wins, along with all-conference players Lauren Fulmer and Shayna Heintzelman.
In 2011, LVC had another strong season, advancing to the conference title match once again while producing three all-conference players, including MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Shayna Heintzelman. The 2012 season saw the Dutchmen return to the conference final behind rookie of the year Amelia Capuano and first-team all-conference pick Christie Graf.Â
A 1997 graduate of Lycoming College, Graeff is an experienced player and instructor. An assistant with the LVC women since 2000 and the men since 2002, Graeff helped both programs excel, culminating with both winning MAC Commonwealth titles and going to the NCAA tournament in 2009.Â
Graeff attended Lower Dauphin High School and played for Peggy Long before going on to be a four-year letterwinner at No. 1 and 2 singles at Lycoming. After graduation, she spent two years as the head coach at Garden Spot High School before joining the LVC staff. She has been an instructor for 15 years and is a USPTA-certified pro.
An avid player, Graeff led her team to the 4.0 national championship and currently plays locally at 4.5. Coincidentally, Graeff was coached by Myers growing up, and the two went on to play together and win several local mixed doubles championships.
Graeff's husband, Dave Remsburg, is the head coach of LVC's men's tennis team, taking over in 2009 after serving as an assistant coach since 2002.
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|
Overall |
|
|
|
MACC |
|
|
|
|
| Year |
Won |
Loss |
Tie |
Pct. |
Won |
Loss |
Tie |
Pct. |
Accolades |
| 2009-10 |
17 |
3 |
0 |
.850 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
.833 |
MACC Championship Game Appearance |
| 2010-11 |
12 |
7 |
0 |
.632 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
.833 |
MACC Championship Game Appearance |
| 2011-12 |
15 |
5 |
0 |
.750 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
.833 |
MACC Championship Game Appearance |
| 2012-13 |
12 |
7 |
0 |
.632 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
.833 |
MACC Championship Game Appearance |
| 2013-14 |
11 |
5 |
0 |
.688 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
.833 |
MACC Championship Game Appearance |
| 2014-15 |
12 |
8 |
0 |
.600 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
.833 |
MACC Championship Game Appearance |
| 2015-16 |
7 |
11 |
0 |
.389 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
.571 |
MACC Semifinal |
| 2016-17 |
14 |
5 |
0 |
.737 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
MACC Championship Game Appearance |
| 2017-18 |
12 |
7 |
0 |
.632 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
.857 |
MACC Champions / NCAA First Round |
| 2018-19 |
7 |
10 |
0 |
.412 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
.500 |
MACC Semifinal |
| 2019-20 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
.375 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.00 |
N/A |
| 2020-21 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
.833 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
.833 |
MACC Championship Game Appearance |
| 12 Seasons |
132 |
75 |
0 |
.638 |
55 |
14 |
0 |
.797 |
* - 2019-20 spring season cut short due to COVID-19 outbreak.
