Barry’s Pocza Named Woman of the Year Top 30 Honoree
The top 30 honorees for the 2011 NCAA Woman of the Year award have been chosen by a selection committee of representatives from various NCAA schools and conferences, and Barry's Barbi Pocza is among the finalists.
This year, a record 471 nominations were submitted for the award that will be presented later this fall. The Woman of the Year Award, now in its 21st year, honors female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academic achievement, athletic excellence, community service and leadership.
As a senior, Pocza carried a 3.71 grade point average as a finance major. She was named to the Capital One Academic All-America Second Team, having won First Team Academic All-District Honors earlier in the spring.
On the court, Pocza led Barry to the 2011 NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis National Championship. She was tabbed 2010-11 Collegiate Women’s Sports Award DII National Tennis Player of the Year and ITA South Region Senior Player of the Year. She was a 2011 First-Team ITA All-American in both singles and doubles.
A native of Gyor, Hungary, Pocza was selected SSC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year for the second straight season. She was an All-SSC First Team honoree in both singles and doubles play.
Pocza was also active in a number of causes in the Miami Shores community. She participated in the Barry Gives Back Tennis Clinic, Miami Shores Village Celebration, Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraising, and the National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
The selection committee will now narrow the Top 30 to three finalists from each division to form the Top Nine, which will be announced in early September. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will select the national winner from the Top Nine honorees. The 2011 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced during the Woman of the Year dinner in Indianapolis on Oct. 16.