March 7, 2008

Spokane, Wash. - Marco Antonio Pineda, a record holder and former standout for the Gonzaga University men's tennis team, has been named a recipient of the 2008-09 NCAA Ethnic Minority Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics.

As a 3-year letterwinner, Pineda finished with 45 career wins including a 23-14 overall record in 2007. His senior season, Pineda was awarded All-West Coast Conference honorable mention accolades, becoming the second Bulldog in history to earn the conference award. His 23 wins during his senior campaign set a school record for single-season victories. Currently, Pineda serves as an assistant coach for the Zags.

Pineda earned his degree in public relations from Gonzaga in 2007. In addition to his tennis accolades, he was named to the WCC All-Academic team as well as being named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Scholar Athlete in 2007. He was also was a member of the 2007 Bulldog squad that earned Gonzaga's first ITA All-Academic Team award.

The NCAA annually awards 13 scholarships to ethnic minorities and 13 scholarships to female college graduates, the NCAA Women's Postgraduate Scholarship, who will be entering their initial year of postgraduate studies. Recipients must be seeking admission or have been accepted into a sports administration or related program that will help them obtain a career in intercollegiate athletics.

The scholarship programs were developed by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee with the goal of increasing the pool of and opportunities for qualified minority and female candidates in intercollegiate athletics.