Aug. 24, 2008

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Furman tennis player Laura Gioia has been invited to participate in the prestigious U.S. International Lawn Tennis Club's 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee, which will take place August 24-29 at the historic Chevy Chase Club in Washington, D.C.

The Diamond Jubilee will feature team tournaments for both men and women in various age categories. In addition, participants will be offered tours of many traditional as well as unusual sights and events in the Washington area. The tournament will feature teams from around the world, including Argentina, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as the United States.

Gioia will be paired with an over-40 player, and the two will compete for the Christiane Mercelis Trophy, after playing in their respective singles divisions. Only sixteen doubles teams are accepted into the tournament.

The USIC was formed in 1931, a few years after the IC's of Great Britain and France, and has grown to nearly 500 active members and over 300 international members.