June 20, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Three members of the Virginia women's tennis team were honored Tuesday as the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State team was announced. Lindsey Pereira (Arlington, Texas) was named to the singles second team, while Kristen James (Clifton, Va.) and Lori Stern (Ojai, Calif.) were named to the doubles team.

Pereira led the Cavaliers this season with 28 singles wins, the fourth most in school history. Among those victories were two that clinched two of the biggest dual match wins of the season for Virginia. On April 9, her three set win over Patricia Starzyk, in which she fought off three match points against her, clinched a 4-3 win over eventual NCAA runner-up Miami. The win over the then-No. 6 ranked Hurricanes marked the highest ranked opponent Virginia had ever beaten. On May 12, Pereira again rallied for a three set win to help the Cavaliers to a 4-3 win, this time over Alabama in an NCAA Tournament first round match. She trailed Shelley Godwin 5-3 in the third set before forcing a tiebreaker, which she won 7-5 to give the Cavaliers just their third NCAA Tournament win in history.

Stern and James ended the season ranked No. 29 nationally in doubles. They competed in the NCAA Doubles Championship, becoming just the fifth Cavalier duo to do so. They were ranked as high as No. 11 nationally during the season as they defeated three top 20 opponents during the year. They ended their career with 51 career wins as a team, the third most in school history.

Overall, Virginia posted a 14-10 record in 2006, and finished the season ranked No. 23 nationally.