April 16, 2008

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Junior women's tennis player Laura Gioia has been named the Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week, the league announced Wednesday.

A standout on Furman's women's tennis team, Gioia has a 3.8-grade point average and is majoring in Health and Exercise Science.

Gioia, a junior from Tampa Fla., had a 3-0 record at No.1 singles. Gioia defeated Wofford's Merry Ellen Henry 6-0, 6-0, Western Carolina's Tessie Salame 6-4, 6-0, and Davidson's Kelsey Linville 6-4, 6-2.

Gioia and her partner Natasa Manojlovic went 3-0 with wins over conference opponents Wofford, Western Carolina and Davidson.

Gioia is ranked 104th in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Gioia helped lead Furman to a 9-0 conference record and the No.1 seed in the upcoming conference championship.