Koelzer and Eidukonyte Receive Regional ITA Awards

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson women’s tennis players Romy Koelzer and Joana Eidukonyte were honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association as announced by the association on Tuesday evening.

Koelzer, a senior, was named the ITA’s Most Improved Senior Player of the Year for the Carolina region, comprised of teams from North Carolina and South Carolina. Koelzer is 20-11 on the season, 15-10 in dual matches, and was 10-3 in ACC regular season play in 2015. She played all but three of her 25 dual matches in the number-one singles spot for the Tigers this season. The native of Betzdorf, Germany is ranked 36^th in the latest ITA poll. She has played 15 opponents ranked in the top 100 and has won seven matches, including a victory over the top player in the country, Virginia’s Julia Elbaba, on March 1. Koelzer was named First-Team All-ACC in 2015, after receiving a Third Team All-ACC nod last season.

Eidukonyte was named the Carolina region’s Player to Watch for 2015. The junior is 35-6 on the season in singles matches, tied for eighth most singles win in a season in Clemson history. She is currently ranked 12^th in the nation. Eidukonyte, the Collegiate Clay Court Invitational Champion last fall, is 11-6 in matches against players ranked in the top 100. The native of Vilnius, Lithuania was named First Team All-ACC for her performance this season.

Koelzer, Eidukonyte and the rest of the Clemson team play No. 4 Vanderbilt Friday at 5 p.m. in the NCAA Sweet 16 in Baylor, Texas.