June 4, 2008

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Furman's Laura Gioia has been named the Southern Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Month for the second consecutive month, the league announced on Tuesday.

Gioia, a junior from Tampa, Fla., led the Paladins into the NCAA Tournament against Michigan. Gioia faced Michigan's Chisako Sugiyama at No.1 singles, Gioia won the first set 6-3 and was down in the second set 3-4 before the match went unfinished.

Gioia was one of 64 players selected to participate in the NCAA Singles Championship, where she faced Katrina Zheltova of Sacramento State. After winning the first set by a score of 6-1, Gioia fell to Zheltova in three sets by scores of 1-6, 6-3 and 6-4.

Gioia finished the season ranked 99th in the ITA national singles poll as well as 16th in the ITA Regional poll and helped her team garner a regional ranking of 11th, ahead of Southern Conference rivals College of Charleston and Davidson.