Former UCLA Women's Tennis Player Shelly Solomon Passes Away

LOS ANGELES - Former UCLA women's tennis standout Rochelle "Shelly" Solomon, a member of the program's first national championship team in 1981, died on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She was 51.

Solomon was a star player for the Bruins during the 1981-82 seasons, eventually turning professional following her sophomore year in Westwood. She played No. 3 singles and No. 3 doubles (w/Kathrin Keil) on the 1981 team, which posted a 27-4 overall record en route to the AIAW National Championship. Solomon then helped the Bruins to a 29-4 record during her sophomore season, culminating with a runner-up finish at the 1982 NCAA Championships. She earned All-American honors during both of her seasons at UCLA.

Following her two-year stint in Westwood, Solomon went on to play professionally on the WTA Tour, achieving a top 60 singles ranking.

"We are so saddened by the news of Shelly's passing," said longtime head coach Bill Zaima, who recruited and coached Solomon at UCLA. "Our thoughts go out to her family and children. Shelly embodied what it means to be a true Bruin. She was an All-American, a national champion, and an excellent student who came back after playing professional tennis to get her degree. She was everything you would want as a player and a person."

Added current UCLA head coach Stella Sampras Webster, "Shelly was a Bruin through and through. She was such a great student-athlete here at UCLA and a great person as well. Her passing is a huge loss to not only the Bruin family but all her family and friends. She will be deeply missed."

Solomon received her B.A. in Political Science from UCLA and went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Nova University Law School.