May 4, 2007

HUNTINGTON - Marshall women's tennis player Kellie Schmitt (Pittsburgh, Pa.) received the automatic bid from Conference USA to participate in the 2007 NCAA Singles Championship May 23-28 in Athens, Ga., on the campus of the University of Georgia. It is the first appearance by a Thundering Herd singles player in the NCAA Singles Championship in the history of the school.

Schmitt, who won Conference USA's Player of the Year award and a spot on the All-C-USA first team earlier this week, is ranked 75th in the latest ITA/FILA rankings, the only player from the league ranked in the top 125 in the country. Automatic qualification into the Division I singles championships is awarded to any conference with one or more eligible singles players ranked in the ITA Top 125 for eligible/entered singles players.

Schmitt and partner Lynzee Kever (Edmond, Okla.) played in the doubles championship in Athens last year, and in 2004, Jessica Johnson and Ashley Kroh were finalists in the NCAA Doubles Tournament.

"This is great recognition for her hard work and good results this year," said Marshall head coach John Mercer. "We're excited to return to Georgia where we've had success, and we're looking forward to competing for a national championship."

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