TheSideline

Irvin named Defensive Player of the Year
Sophomore forward Sandora Irvin was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, in addition to earning second team all-conference honors Wednesday evening. A ceremony was held at the Convention Center in Memphis, Tenn., site of the 2003 C-USA Tournament. Irvin led the league and ranked second in the nation with 4.11 blocks a game, while helping the Lady Frogs limit their opponents to a 36.3 shooting percentage.

Houston junior Chandi Jones became only the second player in C-USA history to be recognized as Player of the Year in consecutive seasons, joining Memphis’ Tamika Whitmore, who earned Player of the Year honors in 1998 and 1999. Jones leads the nation in scoring with 27.5 points a game and ranks 14th in steals (3.37 a game).
Cincinnati had the most overall selections with three, while Charlotte, DePaul, Louisville, TCU and Tulane each had two.

C-USA award winners were selected by a panel including the league’s head coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.

— courtesy of (www.gofrogs.com)

Women’s tennis team to play Tulane, Pepperdine
The 30th-ranked women’s tennis team has two matches in the upcoming week. First up is C-USA opponent 34th-ranked Tulane 2 p.m. today. The Frogs hold a 9-1 series lead on the 34th-ranked Green Wave, including last season’s C-USA Championship 4-0 semifinal victory.

Tulane has three freshmen ranked in the Omni Hotels/ITA top 80: Julie Smekodub (No. 15), Jenny Kuhn (No. 50) and Erika Valdes (No. 78). Smekodub and Kuhn also form the sixth-ranked tandem in the nation.

The Frogs will travel to California for a Spring Break three-match series. Their first match is Tuesday at No. 48 Pepperdine.

— courtesy of (www.gofrogs.com)

Duke challenge men’s tennis team Saturday
The No. 7 Duke Blue Devils will be in town noon Saturday to take on the No. 34 men’s tennis team at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. TCU has one player ranked individually; sophomore Fabrizio Sestini holds the No. 75 spot in the ITA rankings with a 7-3 overall record.

The Frogs are 7-3 overall and 3-0 in C-USA action. TCU moved up three spots in the latest ITA rankings, jumping from No. 37 to No. 34. Duke boasts two ranked players; Phillip King holds a top 10 position, coming in at No. 7. King is followed by Michael Yani, who is ranked 50th.

Duke has not played a dual match since Feb. 22 at the ITA National Team Indoor. Duke owns a record of 5-3.

— courtesy of (www.gofrogs.com)