June 2, 2008

SKILLMAN, N.J. --- North Carolina sophomore Sanaz Marand picked up another accolade Friday when she was named to the 2008 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Women's All-America team. The Katy, Texas, product was among the nation's best singles players all season, finishing the spring with a record of 25-2.

Marand was an All-ACC selection after finishing league play with a record of 9-1 primarily at the No. 1 position. Her outstanding regular season also earned her the ITA Southeast Region Player to Watch honor and a spot as a finalist for the national award.

Perhaps the most amazing feat of Marand's incredible season came in the final few weeks of the campaign. Marand defeated then-No. 1 Ani Mijacika of Clemson, 6-4, 6-1, in the ACC quarterfinals. Then just two matches later, Marand defeated the nation's top player once again, downing Arkansas' Aurelija Miseviciute in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Miseviciute and Mijacika finished the season No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the ITA national poll.