May 12, 2003

Duke tennis coaches Jamie Ashworth and Jay Lapidus both have been named ITA East Regional Coach of the Year while senior Michael Yani was tabbed a recipient of a John Van Nostrand Memorial Award.

Ashworth, Duke's women's tennis coach since 1996, has guided the Blue Devils to a school single-season record 28 wins this year against just two losses. He has guided Duke squad to its first No. 1 national ranking this season en route to earning his second ITA East Regional Coach of the Year honor (2000). The 2003 ACC Coach of the Year, Ashworth, who is 169-24 in seven seasons at Duke, and the Blue Devils captured their first USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Title this season and will next play William & Mary in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 on Thursday in Gainesville, Fla.

Lapidus, now in his 13th season atop the Blue Devil men's program, has directed Duke to a 22-5 ledger this season including the program's 10th ACC Championship since 1991. Now a four-time ITA East Region Coach of the Year selection (1995, 1999, 2001 & 2003), Lapidus owns a coaching record of 284-81 with the Blue Devils that includes a 96-6 mark in ACC regular season action. In making its ninth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 16, Duke will face Mississippi on Saturday in Athens, Ga.

Yani, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, received the Region's John Van Nostrand Memorial Award which is presented annually to an outstanding senior men's player who plans to pursue a professional career after college. An All-America pick in 2002, Yani is a two-time All-ACC selection who earned MVP honors of the 2003 ACC Tournament. He is currently ranked 35th nationally in singles and third in doubles while posting overall records of 21-8 in singles and 19-4 in doubles.