Bielik Picked To USA Collegiate Tennis Team
7/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
July 24, 2002
SKILLMAN, N.J. - Wake Forest women's tennis player, Bea Bielik, was selected by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) to the 2002 USA Tennis Collegiate Team on Tuesday. The Valley Stream, N.Y. product who is coming off a very successful junior campaign with the Demon Deacons, is one of 12 American men's and women's collegiate tennis players that will make up the USA Tennis Collegiate Team.
The USA Tennis Collegiate Team, an elite training program for the top American collegiate tennis players, is administered by the USTA and ITA and is designed to provide players with valuable exposure to the professional circuit in a team-oriented environment. Members of this year's teams are scheduled to participate in select events on the USTA Professional Circuit this summer. The program is funded by the USTA, and the players were chosen by a USTA and ITA Selection Committee with the following criteria: U.S. citizen, dual match record, final Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Ranking, performance in ITA national events and sportsmanship.
Bielik captured the NCAA Singles Championship in May and was named the ITA National Player of the Year. On her way to the NCAA title, she set an NCAA Championship record for fewest games lost (21). In November she won the Omni Hotels National Indoor title (which is the second of three national events during the season). As the NCAA Champion, Bielik earns a spot in the U.S. Open, which begins August 26 in Flushing, N.Y.
A three-time All-American, Bielik finished the 2001-2002 season ranked No. 1 in the Omni Hotels national singles rankings with a 35-2 singles record - giving her 100 career singles victories. The winner of the Honda Award, given annually to the top collegiate women's tennis player, Bielik was also the recipient of the Mary Garber Award, given annually to the ACC Female Athlete of the Year. She was named the ACC Women's Tennis Player of the Year and received the Marge Crisp Award, given annually to the Wake Forest Female Athlete of the Year.
For more information about the USA Tennis Collegiate Team, including a complete roster, go to itatennis.com.