Hall of Fame
From 1991 through 1993, California University’s women’s tennis program won 50 straight dual matches. A driving force behind this remarkable run of athletic excellence was Monica Di Natale-Bach, who is the only player in school history to win three consecutive PSAC singles championships.
Originally from London, England, and a graduate of La Sainte Union High School, Di Natale-Bach won the ILEA London High School 18-and-under tournament two straight years at the top flight. She transferred to Cal from Palm Beach Community College in Florida.
Success was immediate for both DiNatale and the Vulcans under second-year head coach Rich Saccani. The 1991 Cal U Lady Netters soared through the regular season with an 18-0 overall record and the team’s closest victory that year was a 7-2 season-opening win at Division I Towson State. Cal won its first-ever PSAC women’s tennis title at season’s end. Di Natale-Bach was Cal’s second-flight singles player all three seasons and produced a career-best 26-1 record in 1991. She capped her sophomore year by winning the PSAC second-flight singles title and the second-flight doubles title with teammate Adele Norcross. At the ITCA Rolex East Regional in New York, Di Natale-Bach placed an impressive second in the singles competition, losing to teammate and eventual national champion Emma Lin in the finals.
During her junior year in 1992, Di Natale-Bach went 22-2 overall in singles play and again won the PSAC second-flight singles title. At the Regional, Di Natale-Bach advanced to the semifinals in singles competition and was a doubles finalist with Norcross. As a team, Cal finished second at the state championships to Shippensburg after a 20-0 perfect dual season.
The good times and championships continued in 1993 as Di Natale-Bach went 16-2 overall in singles competition with her third straight PSAC singles title. She and Norcross were again PSAC finalists in doubles and the Vulcans won their second team state championship in three years by winning four of six singles titles and one of three doubles titles at the PSAC tourney. Her career record at Cal U was a big-time 64-5 (.928) and Cal’s school-best 50-match win streak is listed as one of the "PSAC’s 50 Greatest Moments."
Di Natale-Bach earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Cal U in 1994. She also met her husband, Bruce Bach, a 1995 Cal U graduate.
Though she is kept quite busy caring for her two sons, eight-month old Jayson, and two-and-a-half year-old Brandon, Di Natale-Bach teaches a two-credit tennis course at Montgomery Community College, where her husband is the athletic director. A true student of the game, Di Natale-Bach also runs tennis clinics year-round for children and adults in Montgomery County. She teaches tennis every day during the summer months. The daughter of Salvatore and Mary Di Natale, Monica and her family reside in Souderton, Pa.
