North Carolina State University Athletics
Olsen Inducted into Big South Conference Hall of Fame
5/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 21, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State women's tennis head coach Hans Olsen was inducted into the Big South Conference Hall of Fame on Friday, May 19, during a ceremony held in Hilton Head, S.C. Prior to joining the Pack, Olsen played men's tennis at Charleston Southern from 1989-92 before serving as a coach at his alma mater from 1997-2001. The event marks the second time that Olsen has been enshrined in a hall of fame, having been induced into the Charleston Southern University Athletics Hall of Fame in October of 2004.
A four-year performer on the CSU men's tennis team, Olsen was a two-time Big South All-Conference selection and was twice named the CSU men's tennis MVP as the No. 1 singles player. After graduating in 1992, Olsen returned to Charleston Southern as head men and women's tennis coach in 1997. He guided the men's team to four consecutive Big South Conference Championships, earning Big South Coach of the Year four times, while posting a men's coaching record of 89-31 overall. Combined with his women's record, Olsen totaled a 133-92 overall record at CSU.
"I am extremely honored to be inducted into the Big South Hall of Fame," said Olsen. "I have been blessed throughout my career to have worked with many great people, as well as exceptional student-athletes, and I am very thankful for that.
"I look back on my days at Charleston Southern with a strong sense of pride and happiness," Olsen said. "I look forward to continuing the strong momentum that the women's tennis program at NC State has right now. We are excited about next season and we look forward to working our way back into the NCAA Tournament."
In his fifth season at the helm of the Wolfpack women's tennis program, Olsen just guided NC State to arguably its best season in school history. The Pack's season ended this past Saturday, May 13, with a 4-0 loss to Virginia Commonwealth in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. One day prior to that, NC State knocked off William & Mary, 4-3, in the first round for the program's first ever NCAA Tournament win. Aside from making the tournament for the first time since 1998, the team's 17 wins on the year stand as the most in a single season in program history.
But the 17 wins didn't come easily. NC State downed eight nationally ranked teams along the way, including No. 25 Florida International, No. 64 Marshall, No. 64 Florida State, No. 33 Virginia, No. 66 Virginia Tech, No. 65 Boston College, No. 29 Maryland and No. 24 William & Mary.
Additionally, several of Olsen's players picked up individual awards this year. Senior Barbara Orlay was named ITA Senior Player of the Year in the Southeast region, while freshman Shona Lee was named All-ACC in her first year with the Pack. Earlier in the season, Lee also picked up conference Player of the Week honors.
