FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-16-00

AASU's Stephanie Kovacic Named ITA National Rookie of the Year
Christopher Petersen Named South Region “Player To Watch”

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Freshman Stephanie Kovacic, who led the Armstrong Atlantic State women's tennis team to a 17-7 record and an NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championships quarterfinals berth was named the ITA National Rookie of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Monday afternoon.

Kovacic compiled a 20-2 singles and 18-3 doubles record and is ranked No. 3 in the nation in singles and No. 3 in doubles as of the latest ITA Division II rankings. She is the second AASU women's tennis player to earn national Rookie of the Year honors – Sandra van der Aa was the 1995 ITA National Rookie of the Year on the Lady Pirates' first NCAA Division II National Championship squad.

Junior Christopher Petersen was named the South Region's ITA Player to Watch. The ITA Player to Watch award is given to a player who has had an outstanding season but has not won a national singles title. Petersen, the PBAC's Freshman of the Year in 1998, has compiled a 24-6 singles record this season and is currently ranked No. 34 in the nation as of the latest ITA Division II rankings.

Division II All-America tennis honors will be announced later this month by the ITA.

- Pirates -