April 29, 2008

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IRVING, Texas - Marshall University's junior Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) garnered her second consecutive Conference USA Player of the Year honor and All-Conference First Team recognition, as selected by the conference's head coaches and announced by the conference office Tuesday.

"It is always an honor to be rewarded for all of the hard work," Schmitt said. "I've worked hard all year to help the team and myself compete this season."

In the latest ITA rankings, Schmitt stands as C-USA's highest ranked singles player at No. 55. Schmitt was 22-3 in singles at the number one slot this spring, including an 8-2 mark in her last 10 matches. She carried a 19-3 doubles record in dual matches, with most of her action coming at the No. 1 doubles line with partner Karolina Soor (Lindesberg, Sweden). Schmitt was also named C-USA Women's Tennis Player of the Week three-times this season and earned C-USA's October Tennis Player of the Month for her performance in the fall.

Also for the Thundering Herd, junior Soor was selected to the All-Conference Second Team for the second year.

"I am excited for the honor," Soor continued. "It is always good to be rewarded for the hard work put in all year."

Soor ended the spring season, 12-11, playing the number two and three mark. She captured the Herd's victory over VT late in the regular season defeating then 120th-ranked Yasmin Hamza. Soor was recognized as the final 2008 C-USA POW, which was the first of her career. In the conference championship, she clinched two key victories at the number three slot for the Herd over UCF's Kyla McNicol and Rice's Tiffany Lee.

The Herd's doubles pair of Schmitt and Soor also earned All-Conference Doubles Team and Outstanding Doubles Team of the Championship for the first time as a duo. Schmitt was honored in 2006 and 2007 with partner Lynzee Kever as Outstanding Doubles Team of the Championship.

"This shows what hard work and dedication does," Marshall's duo added. "We are happy to be recognized for the hard work."

Schmitt and Soor played at the top doubles spot for runner-up Marshall (49th) during the championship and secured two doubles points at the championship. The pair, currently C-USA's top ranked doubles team at No. 28, earned an 8-6 win against UCF and also helped the Herd win the doubles point in the championship match against Tulsa. The pair finished 19-3 at the number one mark and 28-9 overall.

Tulsa led the all-league teams with six selections while Marshall and SMU took five selections and Rice notched three honors.

Schmitt is hoping for a selection into the NCAA singles competition. The Herd doubles pair of Schmitt and Soor also anticipates selection into the NCAA doubles competition. The individuals selected to the singles and doubles championship will be posted on both NCAA Web sites (www.NCAA.com and www.NCAA.org) no later than 6 p.m. ET, Wednesday.

The NCAA Finals will be hosted by the University of Tulsa, May 15-26 at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center, where all rounds of singles and doubles competition will be played.