Two Tiger Women’s Tennis Players Named All-ACC

April 17, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Clemson women’s tennis players Ani Mijacika and Carol Salge were named to the 2008 All-ACC team, as announced by the league office on Thursday. It was the second career honor for both student-athletes, as Salge earned the accolade in 2006 and Mijacika was the 2007 ACC Freshman-of-the-Year.

Mijacika, who is currently the nation’s #1 singles player, boasts a 25-5 overall ledger with an 8-1 record against ACC opponents. She has won eight straight matches, all against conference foes. Salge, currently riding a 10-match winning streak, posted a 10-1 ACC singles record. The two partnered in doubles play in nine league matches this season with an 8-1 record at the no.1 position. Salge also recorded two ACC doubles wins with Laurianne Henry for a 10-1 overall conference mark.

ACC regular-season champion Georgia Tech led all schools with four selections all-conference team and notched two of the three individual superlatives.

Duke received three All-ACC picks, while Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina each had a pair. Boston College, Miami, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest placed one student-athlete apiece.

Georgia Tech’s Kristi Miller earned a spot in the ACC record book, becoming the first Yellow Jacket to be tabbed ACC Player of the Year. The senior, who has been ranked among the nation’s Top 10 in singles in 2008, was instrumental in helping Georgia Tech finish atop of the league standings and capturing its fourth straight regular-season title. The native from Marysville, Mich., went 10-1 in ACC matches this year and also recorded a 6-4 ledger at No. 1 doubles with two different teammates.

After earning her first career league honor earlier this week as the season’s final player of the week, Duke’s Ellah Nze added another accolade to her collection as ACC Freshman of the Year. In her first year, she compiled a 9-2 singles record in ACC matches and posted a team-best 10-1 mark in doubles with fellow All-ACC teammate Reka Zsilinkszka. The Tampa, Fla., native became the second Blue Devil in the last three years to take the league’s top rookie honors.

For the second straight year and fourth time in his career, Georgia Tech’s Bryan Shelton has been named ACC Coach of the Year. He led the Yellow Jackets to their fourth consecutive and first outright ACC regular-season title with a 10-1 record in 2008. Shelton and company, who are the top overall seed this year, will have their sights on a fourth straight ACC championship crown.

The 2008 ACC Women’s Tennis Championship begins today at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla. Coverage of the four-day tournament will be made available On-Demand every night by 9 p.m. on ACC Select from April 17-20.

2008 ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE WOMEN’S TENNIS AWARDS

ACC Player of the Year Kristi Miller, Georgia Tech

ACC Freshman of the Year Ellah Nze, Duke

ACC Coach of the Year Bryan Shelton, Georgia Tech

All-ACC Team *Lana Krasnopolsky………. Boston College*Ani Mijacika…………… Clemson *Carol Salge…………….. Clemson Amanda Granson………….. Duke Ellah Nze………………. Duke Reka Zsilinkszka………… Duke *Lauren Macfarlane………. Florida State Katie Rybakova………….. Florida State Whitney Cray……………. Georgia Tech Amanda McDowell…………. Georgia Tech *Kristi Miller………….. Georgia Tech Christy Striplin………… Georgia Tech *Laura Vallverdu………… Miami Sanaz Marand……………. North Carolina *Katrina Tsang………….. North Carolina Amanda Rales……………. Virginia Yasmin Hamza……………. Virginia Tech Sasha Kulikova………….. Wake Forest

**Denotes All-ACC repeat honoree