Coach Bendel is a 1960 graduate of Saint Vincent College where he founded, captained and led his team to the West Penn Conference tennis title in his senior year. His alma mater has selected him on several occasions for recognition of his athletic skills and community involvement through the awarding of an Honorary Degree, Letterman of Distinction, and while a student, outstanding student in his senior year and nomination to Who's Who.

Coach Bendel's philosophy is to pursue a highly competitive tennis team while recognizing that the "student-athlete" must be prepared to fulfill her lifetime vocation upon completion of college.

Maria was the #1 singles player during her years on the SVC team and was named All-Conference for both singles and doubles throughout her career.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Maria practiced for two years with the men's team before becoming a founding member of the "new" women's team.  A 2004 SVC graduate who served as a player/coach in 2005, she holds degrees in English and Theology. 

Maria has spent seven summers teaching youth and adult tennis programs.  When it comes to coaching, she emphasizes teamwork and decidcation.  She says, "Though we play matches individuall, tennis is also a team sport, so we practice as a team, train as a team, compete as a team, win as a team and lose as a team.  Much of that teamwork comes from the dedication of our players.  We emphasize that tennis is not just a seasonal sport, so our players train hard in the off season to be able to showcase their skills during the regular season matches.  The skills they learn from the teamwork and dedication they display will transcend the sports realm and give them the confidence that they can succeed off the court, in the classroom, and for the rest of their lives."

Chris McMahon, a native of Silver Spring, MD, graduated from the University of Scranton, St. Mary's Seminary, and completed his doctorate at Catholic University in Washington, DC.  He is a member of the theology department at Saint Vincent and teaches a wide range of courses in both scripture and systematic theology. 

As a recreational player, he enjoys hitting with team members regularly.  Chris' coaching philosophy emphasizes the integral relationship between athletics and academics in contributing to the formation of the whole person.

Chad is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) where he was an outstanding football player, lettering four years. Selected by his peers as an All-Conference player during his playing days, he recently was honored by the university with its highest athletic recognition as a member of the IUP Hall of Fame. 

He discovered tennis after his collegiate career, and with his exceptional athletic ability, he has won numerous singles and doubles tournaments in Western Pennsylvania. Maintaining a life-style that is a model for the players, Chad sets a high example for the team to emulate as he directs the training regimen of the team.