April 1, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - This year's recipients for the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming and Diving awards include the league's second consecutive national diving champion and two NCAA All-Americans, as announced today by the league office. All of the awards were determined by a vote of the league's head coaches.

Virginia's Mei Christiansen backed up her ACC Championships Meet MVP honor as she was named ACC Swimmer of the Year. NC State's Kristin Davies, NCAA Champion in Platform Diving, was a unanimous selection for ACC Diver of the Year. North Carolina's Layne Brodie was selected as ACC Freshman of the Year while Virginia Head Coach Mark Bernardino took his 11th ACC Coach of the Year honor.

Christensen, only a junior for the Cavaliers, had a stellar third season as she took fifth place in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 200 back to earn her first career individual All-America honor. The Reston, Va., native also took part in the All-America 400 Medley Relay team which finished in sixth place as well as three Honorable Mention All-America relay teams (200 free, 400 free, 200 medley). Christensen was part of the ACC record frenzy at the ACC Championship, where she set new league standards in the 100 back (51.79) and 200 back (1:52.22) as well as the 200 free, 400 free, 200 medley and 400 medley relays. She also earned ACC Performer of the Week twice and was named CollegeSwimming.com National Swimmer of the Week on Nov. 19.

NC State's Davies earned NC State's first individual postseason honor as the league's unanimous choice for ACC Diver of the Year. The senior ended her Wolfpack career by winning the league's second diving championship and first championship for NC State Swimming and Diving on the platform. After finishing eighth in prelims, Davies rallied in the finals to take top-honors with a score of 339.65, besting Texas' Michelle Livingston by over 18 points. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, native took second place on the Platform at the ACC Championships to earn her second consecutive All-ACC recognition. The win also broke Miami's string of four consecutive Diver of the Year accolades.

North Carolina earned its fifth ACC Freshman of the Year award as Tar Heel newcomer Layne Brodie made a splash to open her career. The Atlanta, Ga., native won both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events at the ACC Championships to stamp her name on the league record book. She also finished second in the 200 IM at the league meet. Brodie set new league records in both breaststroke events. At the NCAA Championships, Brodie finished 32nd in the 100 breast, 33rd in the 200 breast and 34th in the 200 IM. She also claimed medals at the ACC Championship in the 200 and 400 medley relays with third-place finishes in each event.

After guiding the Cavaliers to their second consecutive ACC championships team title and seventh in program history, Bernardino was selected by his peers as the league's Coach of the Year. A native of Drexel Hill, Pa., he has been recognized for the coaching honor 11 times, eight outright and three as a co-recipient. Under Bernardino in 2009, the Cavaliers boasted one NCAA All-American (Christensen), one NCAA All-America relay team (400 medley relay), five ACC individual champions, five ACC championship relay teams, and 12 All-ACC performers.

ACC Swimmer of the Year
Mei Christensen, Virginia

ACC Diver of the Year
Kristin Davies, NC State

ACC Freshman of the Year
Layne Brodie, North Carolina

ACC Coach of the Year
Mark Bernardino, Virginia