April 22, 2009

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Just one day after earning second team All-Southeastern Conference honors, University of Tennessee women's tennis player Samantha Orlin has been named to the SEC Community Service Team, the league office announced Wednesday. The lone senior on the Lady Vol squad this season has been very active within the Knoxville community during her four years at Rocky Top.

A native of Miami, Fla., Orlin has been especially busy reaching out to area youth groups during her senior campaign. This fall, she spent time reading to elementary students at a family reading night at West Hills Elementary to encourage education and reading, in addition to buying and wrapping toys for needy families for the Teams and Toys Christmas Project

The 5-6 senior also helped to pass out candy and gave autographs to young Tennessee fans at soccer and volleyball games on Halloween, participated in the Lady Vol Donor Thankathon and spent time playing with kids whose mothers are recovering from addictions at Child and Family Tennessee.

Prior to this year, Orlin twice assisted at the SAAC Holiday Dinner, helping to provide food to guests from a local homeless shelter. She also participated in the Second Harvest Canned Food Drive and put on numerous tennis clinics for children from the Boys and Girls Club.

The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams in all 20 sports. The Community Service Team looks to highlight athletes from each school who give back to their community in superior service efforts.