May 12, 2003

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - University of North Carolina junior Nicholas Monroe was named Monday as the recipient of the International Tennis Association's Tennis Magazine/Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sportsmanship and Leadership Award for the Mideast Region which includes the states of Maryland through South Carolina on the Atlantic Coast. Monroe now becomes eligible for the national award which will be announced later this month by the ITA.

Monroe, a native of Olathe, Kan., is currently ranked 58th nationally in singles and 17th in doubles. He will compete with Trystan Meniane of UNC in the upcoming NCAA doubles championships.

"We are very pleased that Nick has won this award and he is the ideal recipient," says UNC coach Sam Paul. "Nick has the biggest heart in the world and he is a brilliant leader as well. We look forward to Nick having a chance later this month to play in the NCAA Championships for the first time as an individual."

Monroe is the fourth Tar Heel to win the Mideast Regional Arthur Ashe Award, joining Don Johnson in 1990, Roland Thornqvist in 1992 and David Caldwell in 1995.