Wednesday, 02/16/2011

Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University freshman Olivia Poole (Boca Raton, Fla.) has been named the South Atlantic Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, league officials announced Wednesday. Poole is a perfect 3-0 in singles play this spring, helping the Bulldogs to a 2-1 overall record.

Poole and her teammates picked up a huge win to start the spring campaign, taking a 5-4 road victory over number 27 Augusta State University on Feb. 2. Poole earned a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 win in number four singles against the ASU Jaguars. Earlier in the day, she teamed with classmate Morgan Winston (Atlanta, Ga.) for a 9-8 win in number three doubles. Poole and Winston rallied from a 7-3 deficit to pick up the crucial victory.

Poole followed with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph in number four singles against number 30 Georgia College Sunday. On Tuesday, she added a 6-1, 6-0 win against UNC Pembroke to remain undefeated in singles play. She teamed with Winston for an 8-3 win in number three doubles against the UNCP Braves.

“I am excited for Olivia…because she has worked very hard,” Wingate head coach Michael Cabana says. “Olivia has been a valuable part of our early season success. For her to earn conference player of the week as a freshman…the first time it is awarded (for this season)…is special.”

Poole and her teammates return to action Thursday, hosting Johnson C. Smith University for a 2 p.m. match. The Bulldogs open South Atlantic Conference play Thursday, March 3, visiting Lenoir-Rhyne University for a 2:30 p.m. contest.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private comprehensive university with more than 2,300 students on two campuses in Wingate and Matthews, North Carolina. The university offers 32 undergraduate majors, 36 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.

Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 38 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 47 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.