May 28, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - University of Dayton senior women's tennis player Allysa Detroy was named as the female recipient of the Atlantic 10 Sporting Award, in voting conducted among the senior woman administrators at each of the Conference's 14 institutions.

The Sporting Award is presented annually to a male and female student-athlete who exemplifies good sportsmanship. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a member of an intercollegiate athletics team in a sport sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference; be in good academic standing; be active within the campus community; embody the highest standards of leadership, integrity, and sporting conduct; be enthusiastic about the sport in which they compete; and have noteworthy act(s) of sporting conduct.

Detroy was a four-year member of the women's tennis team. She participated in singles and doubles events every season of her college career. She played #1 singles her sophomore and senior year, and #1 doubles her sophomore, junior, and senior year. For her athletic achievements, Detroy was honored with a few distinguished awards. She won the UD Coach's Award in 2006 and was named Dayton's Most Valuable Player in 2007 and 2008. She was also an A-10 Player of the Week in February 2007. This season, Detroy won five matches at No. 1 singles while posting a mark of 9-14 this season at No. 1 doubles. She amassed 42 singles wins overall during her career.

"As a new coach, you enter the job wondering how your team reacts to the ups-and-downs of competition, and how they will represent your school," UD Head Coach Linda O'Keefe remarked. "You think you know, but until that first match you can never be sure. I had a number of people compliment me on how our team carried itself, and what good sports we were. While I was very proud to hear those things, I know the credit goes to Allysa.

The senior from Evansville, Ind., boasted a 3.96 grade point average while majoring in Spanish and Education. A two-time Academic All-Conference selection and the 2007 Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year in women's tennis, Detroy is a member of Epsilon Delta Upsilon education fraternity and Sigma Delta Pi Spanish honors fraternity. In addition, she was named the 2008 Dayton Presidential Scholar-Athlete and NCAA Woman of the Year.

Detroy displayed her leadership skills on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is currently the Community Service Team Leader. She has also been involved in Epsilon Delta Upsilon, the Education Fraternity, and Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honor Fraternity.

"Something that happened before I starting coaching here is a perfect example of the type of person and competitor she is," O'Keefe said. "In a fall match earlier in her career, her opponent broke the only racket she had with her during the match. Rather than accept a default, Alyssa gave her one of her own to finish the match. She is an amazing person, and someone whose influence will be felt in our program after she is gone."

Service has been a staple in Allysa Detroy's college career. Over the past four years she has dedicated her time to many types of service. She has volunteered at the Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, and Christmas on Campus. She helped coach a tennis program for children through the YMCA and taught English lessons for ESL students at Patterson Kennedy School. These are just a few examples of Detroy's devotion to the University's mantra of "Learn, Lead, and Serve."