May 11, 2006
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech head coach Bryan Shelton, sophomore All-American Kristi Miller and junior standout Alison Silverio have earned ITA South Region Honors, as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Thursday afternoon.
Shelton, in his seventh season at the helm of the Yellow Jacket women’s tennis program, has been named the ITA South Region Coach of the Year for the second-straight season after the Jackets recorded a 21-3 mark in 2006. In the last two years, he has coached a two-time All-American and had five players named all-ACC while leading Tech to back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference Championships.
Miller, the 2005 ITA South Region and ACC Rookie of the Year, has earned the 2006 ITA South Region Player to Watch award, which goes to a player who has had an outstanding season and is expected to perform at a high level the rest of his or her career. This award’s criteria also includes a player’s sportsmanship and character. Miller is currently the nation’s top-ranked singles player and is a two-time All-American and two-time all-conference honoree.
Silverio, a 2005 all-conference honoree and the program’s first ACC Tournament MVP, has earned the Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship, which goes to a women’s player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team’s performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. The Louisville, Ohio native has quietly been one of the team leaders for the last two seasons, leading by example both on and off the court.
Shelton, Miller and Silverio are now eligible for their respective awards on the national level, with those honors being announced at the NCAA Championships on May 22nd. Meanwhile, the Jackets will begin play in the postseason tournament Friday morning when they host the NCAA Atlanta Regional at the Bill Moore Tennis Center. Match time for the Jackets is 11 a.m.
