June 8, 2006
ATLANTA – Kristi Miller of Georgia Tech has been chosen the nation’s top collegiate female tennis athlete for 2006. The honor was based on the results of national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program, now in its 30th year.
Miller’s victory will earn her the Honda Award, given annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, along with automatic nomination for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. The other finalists included Suzi Babos from The University of California – Berkeley, Audra Cohen from The University of Miami and Lindsey Nelson from The University of Southern California. The candidates were selected by a combination of their finish at the NCAA Championships and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings.
Miller was ranked #1 by the ITA for the last two months of the season and finished the season as the #2 ranked player by 3/100th of a point. She posted a 41-7 singles record and 28-10 record for doubles. She is a three-time All-American and was an NCAA quarterfinalist in both the singles and doubles competition. She was named the ACC Tournament’s “Most Valuable Player” and is the 1st All-American in the history of Georgia Tech’s women’s tennis program. Miller was also named the ACC and ITA “Scholar-Athlete” for the second straight year as well as being named the ITA National Player to Watch for 2007.
A sophomore from Marysville, MI, Miller is majoring in history, technology and society, has been on the Dean’s List with a perfect 4.0 GPA and has received the Academic All-District honor.
Previously announced Honda Award recipients include Kristen Kjellman of Northwestern University for lacrosse, Irene Cho of The University of Southern California for golf, Ashley Miles of The University of Alabama for gymnastics, Seimone Augustus of Louisiana State University for basketball, Mary DeScenza of The University of Georgia for swimming, Christine Sinclair of The University of Portland for soccer, Courtney Thompson of The University of Washington for volleyball, Caroline Bierbaum of Columbia University for cross-country and Paula Infante of The University of Maryland for field hockey. The Honda Award winner for softball, track and field and the Division II & III winners will be announced shortly.
The Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year will be determined by separate balloting involving all NCAA-member institutions and the winner will receive the Honda-Broderick Cup at Columbia University in New York on June 26, 2006.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. sponsors the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program.
