Gioia Becomes Three-Time Player of the Week Winner

April 10, 2007

Spartanburg, S.C. - For the third time this season, Furman women's tennis player Laura Gioia was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for her outstanding performance on the courts.

Gioia helped the Lady Paladins to two more conference victories last week, making them the lone unbeaten team in the league with one match to go. The sophomore only lost a combined four games in her two singles matches, opening with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Western Carolina's Tessie Salame at number one on April 3. Gioia also teamed up with junior Natasa Manojlovic for an 8-4 win over Salame and Trish Hanson at the top doubles position.

In the battle of the unbeatens on April 5, Gioia led Furman to a 6-1 victory over College of Charleston with wins in singles and doubles. The native of Tampa, Fla., rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Chelsea Albertz at number one singles, and she and Manojlovic posted an 8-6 doubles victory over Holly Dowse and Anna Lee Evans. Gioia holds an 18-2 overall singles record this season, including an 8-0 mark in conference matches. She is also undefeated in SoCon doubles and owns a 15-5 overall mark. She is the SoCon's only undefeated number one singles and doubles player.

With an 8-0 league record this season, Furman has extended its conference regular-season winning streak to 78 straight, dating back to March 27, 1999.

The Lady Paladins face Georgia Tech in the final non-conference match of the season tomorrow at 2 p.m. Furman will close out regular-season play with a battle against Davidson on Saturday, April 14 at 1 p.m. The Wildcats have only one conference loss -- to College of Charleston, 4-3. The match will feature three Furman seniors in their final home match -- Bonnie Baird, Lisa Bornt-Davis and Jacqueline Eckert.