INTELLIGENT WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS PLAY FINAL HOME GAME

Ross, Pittman, Jackson all honored as student-athletes

 Greensboro, N.C.,  April 7, 2006 – N.C. A&T coach James Dunwoody gets very excited when talking about his women’s team. He loves they way they compete on and off the court, particularly in the classroom. Today, he watched as two of his three seniors played their final match on the courts of the Aggie Tennis Complex. The Aggies fell 7-0 to Gardner-Webb.

 Shannon Pittman and Tracy Ross played for the first time as a doubles team, falling in a competitive 8-3 match to Krystina Sigmon and Monica Walser. Ross played at No. 2 singles for the first time, forcing Amy Beavers to a tiebreaker before falling 7-6 in the first set. Beavers won the second set 6-2. Pittman fell in No. 5 singles to Sigmon, 6-3, 6-2.

 Gardner-Webb won all three doubles matches to take the double point, then took all 12 sets to earn the victory. N.C. A&T fell to 5-13 on the season.

 Dunwoody had to make an adjustment to the lineup after learning that his top singles player, senior Kathryn Jackson, has decided to pursue an opportunity to enter into law school and will miss the final three matches of the season. “I’m very, very happy that Kathryn has gotten this far in her career as both a player, and as a student-athlete. She epitomizes what a student-athlete should be and education comes first.”

 Jackson, who was named the Female Academic Athlete of the Year at the 2005 at the All-Sports Banquet, has been nominated as the Senior Female Athlete of the Year. On Thursday, she, along with Pittman, Ross, Christina Ruffin, and Terika Palmer, were named Student-Athlete honorees for maintaining a 3.0 or above cumulative grade point average.

 “These young ladies have worked hard this season and it has paid off with victories,” said Dunwoody, “They have left a positive mark in women’s tennis at A&T. I wish them well as they leave us and enter the real world. I expect them to do well, and from their dedication here, I believe they will.”

 N.C. A&T plays their final match of the regular season on the road against MEAC rival Hampton tomorrow at 1 p.m. The MEAC Tournament will take place Apr. 21-23 at the Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh, N.C.

N.C. A&T Tennis Results
Mar. 24, 2006
Gardner-Webb 7, Aggies 0
Singles

1. Jenny Gomez (GWU) defeated Christina Ruffin (NCAT) 6-2, 6-3
2. Amy Beavers (GWU) defeated Tracy Ross (NCAT), 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
3. Sara Zirnheld (GWU) defeated Deanna Bailey (NCAT), 6-2, 6-0
4. Monica Walser (GWU) defeated Terika Palmer (NCAT), 6-4, 6-2
5. Krystina Sigmon (GWU) defeated Shannon Pittman (NCAT) 6-3, 6-2
6. Tracey Tonsor (GWU), defeated Porche Martin (NCAT), 6-0, 6-1

 Doubles
1. Sigmon / Walser (GWU) defeated Ross / Pittman (NCAT), 8-3
2. Beavers / Zirheld (GWU) defeated Palmer / Ruffin (NCAT) 8-4
3. Gomez / Carol Pancia (GWU) defeated Martin / Bailey (NCAT), 8-0