Adelphi University Athletics

The 2023-24 season marked the fifth year for Karen Serina as an assistant coach with the Adelphi University men's and women's tennis teams.

Her guidance while working hand-in-hand with her former teammate and doubles partner, Rebecca Fakas, has translated to immediate success for both programs, most recently culminating with both the men's and women's teams capturing an NE10 Championship in 2023-24. It led to Serina being named the ITA East Region Assistant Coach of the Year that spring.

The year before, the Adelphi men's tennis team won a share of the NE10 regular-season title for the first time in program history.

In 2021-22, the Adelphi women advanced to the NE10 Championship final for the first time since 2017 -- back when Serina played for the program.

A year before that, the women's team achieved a 10-2 record and placed all five starters on the NE10 All-Conference Team, while the men's team reached the semifinals of the NE10 Tournament and won its first postseason match since 2016.

A former four-year standout for the Panthers, Serina excelled in doubles in her time at Adelphi, posting a career record of 54-15. As a senior, she won her first 13 doubles decisions of the season and finished with an impeccable 14-1 mark at the No. 2 flight, en route to garnering NE10 All-Conference first-team honors.

She also earned NE10 All-Conference second-team accolades at No. 1 doubles in 2016 and 2017, and received NE10 All-Conference third-team honors for her play at No. 3 singles in 2015.

Serina, who graduated cum laude from Adelphi in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Physical Activity Studies, came over from East Islip High School, where she was a three-time All-State and six-time All-County selection.

A six-time singles conference champion, Serina completed six years of high school tennis with an undefeated 96-0 record.

In addition to her duties as an assistant coach at Adelphi, Serina serves as a tennis coach at Future Stars Camps in Farmingdale -- a position she has held since 2016.

Serina resides in Islip Terrace, N.Y.