Yana Koroleva Named ACC Women?s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Rising junior All-American Yana Koroleva was named the ACC’s 2013 Women’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year in heading up the sport’s All-Academic Team as announced on Tuesday by Commissioner John Swofford. Koroleva becomes Clemson’s first Scholar Athlete of the Year in women’s tennis, and is joined by freshman All-ACC performer Liz Jeukeng on the 20-member team.  The duo become just the second and third Clemson women’s tennis players to be named All-ACC on the court and classroom in the same season, since the honor was created in 2006. It’s the first time since 2009 (Ina Hadziselimovic, Estefania Balda) that two Clemson women’s tennis players were named to the team in the same season.  Koroleva, a communications studies major, sparkled for Clemson this season on the court, earning All-America, All-ACC and ITA Region Player to Watch honors. She compiled a 28-8 singles record overall, finishing the season ranked 13th in the nation and became one of just four Clemson players ever to reach the NCAA Singles Quarterfinals. She is also ranked 34th in the nation with Beatrice Gumulya, as the two went 10-1 together, including an upset of the No. 1 doubles team in the nation.  Jeukeng, a health sciences major, is just the second known student-athlete in Clemson history to enroll in January and earn All-ACC honors in the same semester, joining Kyle Parker in baseball in 2008. Jeukeng is, however, the first student-athlete to be named to the All-Academic team as well. Jeukeng completed the entire 2013 season before turning 17 years old.  Koroleva and Jeukeng were the top two players in Clemson’s lineup, leading the Tigers to a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16 and a No. 13 final team ranking. Additionally, each participated in the NCAA Singles Championships, with Koroleva advancing to the quarterfinals. Though just a sophomore in terms of tennis experience, Koroleva is academically a junior.  The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a minimum 3.0 grade point average for their career as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters. Koroleva and Yannick Maden of the men’s team helped Clemson to a sweep of the ACC Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards.  2013 ACC All-Academic Team Alexandra Kelleher, Boston College Yana Koroleva, Clemson (Scholar-Athlete of the Year) Liz Jeukeng, Clemson  Mary Clayton, Duke    Hanna Mar, Duke    Ester Goldfeld, Duke         Danekia Borthwick, Florida State      Amy Sergeant, Florida State                     Francesa Segarellia, Florida State           Elizabeth Kilborn, Georgia Tech             Megan Kurey, Georgia Tech                     Melissa Bolivar, Miami                               Lina Lileikite, Miami                                      Stephanie Wagner, Miami                          Ashley Dai, North Carolina                        Zoe de Bruycker, North Carolina            Joelle Kissell, NC State         Erin Vierra, Virginia                       Tea Ivanovic, Virginia Tech          Ilinca Stoica, Virginia Tech