University of Tennessee Athletics
VILMARIE CASTELLVI TABBED LADY VOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
May 29, 2003 | Women's Tennis
May 29, 2003
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
For the fifth time of the 2002-03 academic year, senior Vilmarie Castellvi of the University of Tennessee Lady Vol tennis squad has been named Lady Vol Athlete of the Week, as determined by a unanimous vote of the UT media relations staff. Castellvi is the only athlete to earn the nod five times this year. Basketball's Gwen Jackson and diving's Jaime Sanger have each been honored on four separate occasions.
Castellvi finished as the runner-up in the NCAA Singles Championship in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday, dropping a straight-set decision to Amber Liu of Stanford. The Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, native became the first player in Tennessee history to advance to the semifinal and final rounds of the tournament. It was the fourth meeting between Castellvi and Liu during the 2002-03 campaign. Castellvi claimed two of their three matchups prior to the NCAA Championship.
Castellvi's career record of 140-51 in singles makes her the all-time winningest player in UT history. She surpassed Paula Kelly's 21-year standard of 133 with a victory against Julia Scaringe of Florida on April 19. Castellvi also had an impressive run in doubles with a 97-63 mark, which stands at fifth on the school's all-time list. She is also the only Lady Vol to hold the No. 1 ranking in singles.
Castellvi was recently named one of four finalists for the prestigious Honda Sports Award in tennis. The awards recognize the top female athletes in the country in their respective sports. After nationwide balloting, the winner becomes a nominee for The Honda-Broderick Cup, awarded annually to the nation's outstanding collegiate woman athlete of the year. Castellvi is up against sophomore Kelly McCain (Duke), junior Agata Cioroch (Georgia) and Liu for the award.
