April 22, 2010
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech sophomore Irina Falconi has been named the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year and heads up the All-ACC Team, as announced today by Commissioner John D. Swofford.
“Irina is a special player and she is having a phenomenal season,” head coach Bryan Shelton said. “I am pleased to see her recognized for all over her achievements this year in such a strong league. This award doesn’t even speak to the fact that she is a special person and a team player.”
Falconi, who hails from Jupiter, Fla., joins former Yellow Jackets standout Kristi Miller as the only players in program history to earn the Player of the Year award. She finished the regular season with a 22-1 singles record and was a perfect 10-0 against conference opponents. The nation’s No. 1 player has won 16 straight singles matches and has only lost two sets in that streak.
Since September, Falconi is an incredible 33-2 in singles play and is 24-2 overall against ranked opponents. With her 33 victories, Falconi has moved into ninth place all-time in singles wins in a season. Her 22 dual-match wins rank fifth in the Yellow Jacket record books. If the season ended today, her .943 winning percentage would by far be the best in program history.
Falconi, who also closed out the dual-match regular season with an 18-5 doubles record, was also recognized on the All-ACC team for the second straight season.
The Yellow Jackets open play at the ACC Tournament today at the Cary (N.C.) Tennis Center against 10th-seeded Virginia Tech at noon. Live Stats will be available at RamblinWreck.com.
2010 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Tennis Team
Josipa Bek, Sophomore, Clemson* Ina Hadziselimovic, Senior, Clemson Keri Wong, Sophomore, Clemson Ella Nze, Junior, Duke** Elizabeth Plotkin, Senior, Duke Reka Zsilinszka, Junior, Duke** Lauren McCreless, Senior, Florida State** Katie Rybakova, Junior, Florida State** Irina Falconi, Sophomore, Georgia Tech* Anna Bartenstein, Sophomore, Miami Bianca Eichkorn, Junior, Miami* Laura Vallverdu, Senior, Miami*** Sanaz Marand, Senior, North Carolina** Katrina Tsang, Senior, North Carolina*** Sandhya Nagaraj, Sophomore, NC State Lindsey Hardenbergh, Sophomore, Virginia Sasha Kulikova, Senior, Wake Forest** Martina Pavelec, Sophomore, Wake Forest
Player of the Year – Irina Falconi, Georgia Tech
Freshman of the Year – Francesca Segarelli, Florida State
Coach of the Year – Brian Kalbas, North Carolina
* – Repeat All-ACC Selection ** – Three-time honoree *** – Four-time honoree
-RamblinWreck.com-
