April 17, 2008

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss freshman Virginia Espejo was named to the Women's Golf All-Conference USA Third Team in a vote by the league's nine coaches announced today by the league office in Irving, Texas.

It is the first all-conference selection for the Lady Eagles since Ofelia Lopez was named to the team in 2001. It is also just the sixth all-conference selection ever.

Espejo was one of two golfers to participate in nine of ten tournaments this year. She led the team with a 77.9 stroke average over 22 rounds.

The Madrid, Spain native had two top five finishes, three top ten finishes and four top 20 finishes. At the USA Lady Jaguar Invitational, Espejo put together back-to-back 73's, her lowest rounds of the year, on her way to a second place finish.

A month later, Espejo shot 76-74 to close in a tie for third at the Lady Eagle Invitational.

Most recently, the freshman earned a tie for 11th-place at the Conference USA Championships, the highest finish for a Lady Eagle since 2004.

East Carolina's Abby Bools was named the Golfer of the Year. Joining her on the first team are teammates Emilie Lind and Freshman of the Year Amber Littman, Michaela Cavener of Tulsa and UCF's Mayule Tomimbang.

The second team consisted of SMU's Kate Ackerson and Lacey Jones, UCF's Stephanie Connelly and Jessy Tang, and Tara Goedeken of Tulsa.

Joining Espejo on the third team are Leigh Crosby of UCF, Leisl Hasbrouck of Tulsa, Memphis' Rachel Larson and UTEP's Deborah Martinez.

2007 - 08 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM Abby Bools, East Carolina Michaela Cavener, Tulsa Emile Lind, East Carolina Amber Littman, East Carolina Mayule Tomimbang, UCF

2007-08 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM Kate Ackerson, SMU Stephanie Connelly, UCF Tara Goedeken, Tulsa Lacey Jones, SMU Jessy Tang, UCF

2007-08 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM Leigh Crosby, UCF Virginia Espejo, Southern Miss Leisl Hasbrouck, Tulsa Rachel Larson, Memphis Deborah Martinez, UTEP