Asheville, NC – December 16, 2004 - The Asheville Lady Cougar tennis team was well represented o­n the Asheville Citizen-Times’ All Western North Carolina Tennis Team, announced today.  As a team, the Lady Cougars advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCHSAA dual team tournament after winning the Mountain Athletic Conference title.  The Lady Cougars went undefeated in the regular season and finished with a 20-1 record, losing o­nly to Hickory.

Sophomore Alexa Ely was named WNC Player of the Year.  Ely won the 2004 NCHSAA 3A singles championship.  She finished the season with a 17-1 singles record.Sophomore Christiane Pheil was also named to the First Team.  Pheil had an 18-0 record in the No. 2 singles spot and played No. 1 doubles with Ashley Brown, a junior, finishing with a 10-2 record.  Ashley Brown, who played No. 3 singles, was named to the Second Team. 

Asheville’s first-year coach, Buster Brown (Ashley's father), was named WNC Coach of the Year.  Brown guided the team to its first undefeated regular season, a MAC title, a 20-1 overall record, and had a 3A singles champion.

Congratulations to everyone o­n the well-deserved accolades!  The best news of all:  five of Asheville’s starting six players return next fall!