Salkovic Claims Midwest Arthur Ashe Honors
5/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
ITA Division I Regional Award Winners
CHICAGO - DePaul senior women's tennis standout Selma Salkovic was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Midwest Regional winner of the Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship it was announced on Thursday. Salkovic is one of 12 regional winners while the National winner will be announced next week.
The ITA Arthur Ashe Award recognizes outstanding individuals in all divisions at the regional and national level. It is awarded to students-athletes who exhibit exceptional sportsmanship and leadership on the court, as well as scholastic, extracurricular, and tennis achievements.
"Selma is a very deserving winner of the award," head coach Mark Ardizzone said after receiving news of the honor.
His two-time captain will graduate as DePaul's all-time winningest doubles player. Salkovic tallied an impressive 116-51 career doubles record and became the first DePaul player along with her partner Anna Redecsi to play in the NCAA Doubles Championship in 2010.
A regional recipient of the Arthur Ashe Award himself as collegian, Ardizzone went on to say, "despite Selma being injured for most of the year, she was still a great leader and inspiration to our team."
"Competing when you are not at your best, but doing so for the good of the team is very difficult. Selma always competed with pride -- for DePaul and her teammates. She is a true fighter who gave everything she had for her team," Ardizzone added.
Prior to her injury, Salkovic was invited to play at the prestigious Riviera/ITA All-American Championship in Los Angels in the fall and was ranked No. 31 in 2010-11 preseason doubles rankings with Gia McKnight.
Salkovic and McKnight reached the quarterfinals of the ITA Midwest Regionals in 2010, while Salkovic entered the Regional as the reigning doubles champion from 2009.
"I am really proud and happy to receive the Arthur Ashe Regional Award," Salkovic said with appreciative smile.
"I have always said community service is a very selfish -- you always leave feeling good about yourself and productive after completing your service."
A member of DePaul's Captains' Council, Salkovic has participated in the DePaul University Solider Care Package Drive, Athletics Alcott School Field Days, St. Vincent de Paul Service Days along with countless other Captains' Council service initiatives.
"I hope that I am good example to my teammates, other student-athletes and people in the community. I fell like I could do so much more, but it is really hard to find time to participate in community service with practice, competitions and school work."
Salkovic, who has earned All-BIG EAST Conference honors in two seasons, graduates in June with a degree in finance and a minor in sales leadership. The Pula, Croatia native boasts a 3.573 GPA and is a three-time member of the BIG EAST All-Academic Team.
Salkovic is the second Blue Demon to earn the Arthur Ashe Midwest Award -- current assistant coach and former DePaul standout Dunja Antunovic also received the award in 2009. Antunovic went on to become the DI women's national winner.
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Players Mentioned
