Laura Gioia Class: Senior Hometown: Tampa, Fla. High School: Freedom High Height: 5-5

Junior Year (2007-08): Junior Laura Gioia has garnered a major conference award for three straight seasons. She was named Freshman of the Year during her rookie campaign, Player of the Year as a sophomore, and this year, earned the SoCon Tournament Most Valuable Player award. As a junior she racked up a 22-2 singles record, recording the most wins on the team, as well as a 19-4 doubles record. Her 22 singles wins are the fourth best in the Furman record books for single season victories. She was named first team all-conference in both singles and doubles. Gioia is currently ranked 86th in the ITA singles poll and has been ranked as high as 53rd, while maintaining a national ranking throughout the entire season.

Sophomore Year (2006-07): As a sophomore, Gioia continued her outstanding play, being named Socon Co-Player of the Year. Gioia finished the league season with undefeated singles and doubles records at the top position. She earned first-team all-conference honors in both singles and doubles for the second consecutive year, tallying an overall record of 19-3 in singles and 16-6 in doubles. Gioia played the toughest slate of any Lady Paladin and defeated ranked opponents from Clemson and Chattanooga. She was honored as SoCon Player of the Week three times, TIAA-CREF Student Athlete of the Week twice and earned league Player of the Month in February. She was also named to the spring SoCon Academic All-Conference Team.

Freshman Year (2005-06): Gioia had an outstanding freshman season, earning Southern Conference Freshman of the Year honors. She played at the top of the Furman singles and doubles lineup in her first year. Gioia gives 100 percent everyday and finds ways to win. Her doubles play improved tremendously last year as she paired with Marti Morris to go 15-7 overall and 7-1 in the league.

Gioia was also named first-team All-SoCon in both singles and doubles. She and Morris won their first match of the season against a University of Florida duo ranked 25th in the country. At the top spot in the lineup, Gioia has and will face some of the nation's best competitors.

Prep/Personal: Gioia finished her prep career ranked 12th in Florida. She led Freedom High to the state tournament all four years of high school, capping off her senior year with a state crown. Gioia earned team MVP honors as a rookie after making it to the individual state final. In 2004, she won the USTA State Doubles Championship and the previous year made the finals of the USTA National Open. Laura is the daughter of Larry and Mary Ann Gioia and was born on July 18, 1987. She intends to study a pre-med curriculum.

Gioia's Career Dual Statistics
2006 2007 2008 Total	Singles 13-10 21-3 22-2 56-15	SoCon 6-2 9-0 8-1 23-3		Doubles 15-7 17-7 19-5 51-19	SoCon 7-1 9-0 8-1 24-2

Getting to Know Gioia...

Favorite Restaurant: PF Changs
Favorite Book: The Alchemist
Favorite Movie: Italian Job
Favorite TV Show: 24
Craziest Ambition: To go skydiving
Best non-athletic talent: Scrapbooking
First Job: Babysitting in middle school
Something People Don't Know About Me: I'm really superstitious
Proudest Athletic Accomplishment: Winning the SoCon Championship for the past three years with my amazing team. The feeling is indescribable.
Most Famous Person I've Met: Pete Sampras
If a movie were made about me, I'd want this actress to play me: Rachel McAdams
Pro Player I'd Most Like to Play Against: Rafael Nadal
The Reality Show I'd Go On: Top Chef
If I'm Cooking, We're Having...: Pasta with chicken, tomatoes and pesto