April 17, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. --- North Carolina sophomores Sanaz Marand and Katrina Tsang were named to the 18-member All-Atlantic Coast Conference women's tennis team, the league office announced Thursday. Tsang is a two-time All-ACC performer, while the honor is the first for Marand.

Marand is in the midst of one of the best seasons for a singles player in school history. The Katy, Texas, product finished the regular season 21-1 in dual match play, including a 9-1 mark in ACC matches. She is 7-1 on the spring against ranked opponents, with her lone loss coming to Clemson's Ani Mijacika, currently the No. 1 player in the nation. Marand has also been a standout in doubles play, teaming with junior Sophie Grabinski to spend the entire spring ranked in the top 10 in the country.

Tsang has brushed off a slew of off-season injuries to post her second straight standout season in Chapel Hill. The Raleigh, N.C., right-hander was 14-7 in dual matches, including a 7-3 mark in ACC play, and has wins over four ranked opponents. Tsang and her primary doubles partner, Austin Smith, have been stellar this spring, posting a spotless 9-0 mark, with all nine wins coming over ACC opponents.

Marand, Tsang and the rest of the 13th-ranked Tar Heels will be in action Friday morning against Clemson in the ACC quarterfinals.