June 6, 2006

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Sophomore All-American Audra Cohen was one of four nominees for the 2005-2006 Honda Sports Award for tennis administered by The Collegiate Women Sports Awards it was announced Tuesday. Cohen was joined on the list by UCLA's Susi Babos, Georgia Tech's Kristi Miller and Southern California's Lindsey Nelson. Miller claimed the award after nation-wide balloting among NCAA member schools.

In addition to the honor of this nomination, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. will donate $1,000 to the women's athletic fund of each nominee's university.

Honda partnered with the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards to honor the most outstanding female collegiate players in the nation. Winners are chosen in each of the 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. Student-athletes are selected, not only for their superior athletic skills, but also for their leadership abilities, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. One student-athlete will be chosen as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.

The nomination is added to a long list of accomplishments for Cohen this season. Ranked No. 1 in the final Fila Collegiate Tennis Rankings, Cohen finished the season with a stellar 34-2 singles record and a 30-6 mark in doubles play.

Cohen, who opened the season unranked after sitting out the fall while recovering from back surgery, claimed victories over two No. 1 ranked players during the season and recorded a 22-2 against ranked opponents.

In the spring, Cohen went on to win 27-straight matches before enduring her first loss of the season. The Plantation, Fla. native bounced back and won four straight matches to the help lead the Hurricanes to the NCAA Championship Team Final. In the NCAA Team Tournament Cohen went 4-0 and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team in the No. 1 singles position.

Cohen earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Singles Championship where she reached the Round of 16.

During conference play, Cohen posted an 11-0 record en route to All-ACC honors and was likewise named ACC Player of the Year.

In doubles, Cohen was ranked No. 2 in alongside partner Melissa Applebaum. Together, the duo spent most of the season ranked second and earned the NCAA Doubles Championship's No. 2 overall seed. They advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals and finished the season with a 24-3 overall record. At one point during the season, Applebaum and Cohen held a 15-match win streak. They posted a 17-2 mark against ranked opponents.

2005-2006 Collegiate Women Sports Awards Tennis Finalists

Susi Babos (University of California, Berkeley)
Audra Cohen (University of Miami)
*Kristi Miller (Georgia Tech)
Lindsay Nelson (University of Southern California)

*2005-06 Winner