19-Dec-2014
American Juniors Shine at Metropolia Orange Bowl
Stefan Kozlov, Sonya Kenin and Sam Riffice made the 2014 Metropolia
Orange Bowl in Plantation, Florida a tournament to remember for US
juniors, with Kozlov and Kenin claiming their first Grade A titles and
Riffice joining exclusive company in adding the 16s championship to
his Eddie Herr title.
17-Dec-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - December '14
Today we announce the December edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
12-Dec-2014
Opelka and Galfi Claim Eddie Herr ITF Titles
For the first time in the history of the Eddie Herr International ITF
tournament, two American boys met in the final, with unseeded Reilly
Opelka taking home the title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 2 seed
Michael Mmoh at the IMG Academy in Bradenton Florida. The girls final,
played earlier in the day, saw No. 7 seed Dalma Galfi of Hungary
defeat No. 5 seed Gabby Ruse of Romania 6-4, 7-5 to earn her second
major junior title in three weeks.
10-Dec-2014
Minor Leagues of Tennis a Proving Ground for Officials as Well as Players
Known mainly for his booming voice over a Stadium Court microphone and
his laid back demeanor, chair umpire Jake Garner is the face of
tennis officiating here in the United States. But in October, Garner
took a break from his regular duties to head to Macon, Ga., to observe
and scout officials at a 50K women's pro event - which is good news
for tennis players of all levels...
8-Dec-2014
Marissa Irvin and A Magical Racquet Ride
Marissa Irvin is one of those rare players who flawlessly made the
transition from the top of the junior rankings to the head of the
college rankings, and on to a fairly successful professional career.
She can now add award-winning author to her resume, but the tennis
book she wrote is not what you might expect.
7-Dec-2014
Helping Bill Kallenberg
Bill Kallenberg has been a long-time friend of Tennis Recruiting.
His photos have appeared in Tennis Recruiting articles for years,
and we recently began working with him more formally - Bill took
photos for TennisRecruiting.net at Kalamazoo this summer as well
as at the U.S. Open. Many of you have seen him at junior tournaments
over the years - and those of you in college have probably met him
as well. Today, Bill is in need...
5-Dec-2014
Doubles Features Prominently in the November Aces
Doubles isn't often highlighted in my monthly review of top
performances, but last month two teams showed just how good the
collegiate product is, with two current student-athletes winning ATP
Challenger titles. A college major, a return to the game and an ITF
Grade A made it another busy month in the world of college and junior
tennis.
3-Dec-2014
Considering NCAA Division III Tennis
At Tennis Recruiting, one of our early New Year's resolutions is to
provide more and better coverage of Division III tennis. Toward that
end, we sought out the best - and today is the first feature article
from our friends at Division3Tennis.com. Check out this introductory
article - which provides some advice on how to approach the recruiting
process with a focus on D-III schools...
2-Dec-2014
College Tennis Scholarship Evaluations - Enhancing the Recruiting Experience
Around the college tennis community, you will hear a lot of talk about
"realistic and attainable scholarship opportunities" for student
athletes these days. Athletics can open doors, but it is important to
identify colleges that are a good fit for you as a rounded individual.
The key to finding a college fit is knowing your strengths, and that's
where a quality evaluation comes in.
1-Dec-2014
Class Rankings Algorithm Changes
Fifty-two weeks a year, Tennis Recruiting publishes Class Rankings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Over the coming months, we
are making some modifications to our ranking algorithm that should
make our lists better. Take a look at the changes that start getting
phased in this week.
30-Nov-2014
Bellis, Mmoh Highlight 2014 Eddie Herr ITF Tournament
The 2014 edition of the Eddie Herr ITF features two top American
prospects, with USTA 18s champion CiCi Bellis and recent ITF Grade A
Abierto Juvenil Mexicano champion Michael Mmoh among the contenders at
the prestigious event held annually at the IMG Academy in Bradenton,
Florida.
28-Nov-2014
Eddie Herr Preview 12s, 14s, 16s
As professional tennis winds down, junior competition heats up in
Florida, with the Eddie Herr International kicking off a busy month of
December for junior tennis players. As hundreds of competitors head to
the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, here's a look at who might
shine next week in one of the world's biggest junior tennis events.
26-Nov-2014
Breakdowns Before Breakthroughs
Andre Agassi survived. So did Novak and Serena. And it brought Andy
Murray to tears on center court at Wimbledon It is considered one of
tennis' greatest challenges. The phenomenon called breakdowns before
breakthroughs.
24-Nov-2014
Tips from D-I Players and Parents
At High-Tech Tennis, we're in a unique position because we have access
to information that can help you transition from junior tennis to
college tennis. We have interacted with dozens of junior tennis
coaches who have walked the walk and are now talking the talk to help
you navigate the very exciting - but sometimes confusing - recruiting
process. Here are five interesting HIGH-TECH TIPS that might help you if
you've got your heart set on playing Division I.
20-Nov-2014
An Interview with 2013 NCAA Champion and Rising ATP Star Blaz Rola
Football may reign over the sports kingdom at Ohio State, but 2013
NCAA champion Blaz Rola has done his part to raise tennis's visibility
in Columbus. Colette Lewis of ZooTennis talked with Rola at the Champaign,
Illinois Challenger last week covered many topics, including his first
year on tour, his decision to play college tennis, his plans for
off-season training and his schedule for early next year.
18-Nov-2014
Daniel Gealer Commits to the Bruins
Because of his hard work and results on the court, Danny Gealer has
earned the opportunity to play in prestigious events like the Ojai
Championships, Junior Davis Cup and Junior Boys Nationals. As Danny
Gealer prepares to make the transition from a highly-recruited junior
player to college freshman, the Los Angeles resident recently
announced he has committed to play college tennis at UCLA starting in
the fall of 2015.
17-Nov-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - November '14
Today we announce the November edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
16-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Balancing Time Between Court and Classroom
With Fall Signing Week at hand, tennis players are faced with the
next challenge: finding time to practice while keeping up in the
college classroom. Brandon Videtich and Will Gilhooly, tennis alumni
at NCSA Athletic Recruiting, share tips and strategies that helped
them maintain a healthy balance in college.
15-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Presbyterian College Banks on Belsito
Since starting tennis at age twelve, Daniel Belsito has been making
up for lost time. He started playing tournaments within a week of
first picking up a racquet, and started hitting with coaches a year
later. After winning a state championship and making huge strides in
his game, Belsito took a visit to Presbyterian College - a small
liberal arts school two hours from home. Before long, he realized that
joining the Presbyterian Blue Hose "was the obvious choice."
15-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Blended Learning and the Student Athlete
With the demands of high performance training and tournament travel,
many top-tier high school student-athletes are finding the balance
between school and sports extremely challenging. The traditional
factory-model setting poses difficulties for many students - but there
are challenges unique to student-athletes who require flexible
arrangements. Enter "blended learning" - which combines
online learning and traditional schooling...
14-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Cameron Klinger Signs with Vandy
Cameron Klinger always played tennis because he enjoyed playing
tennis. He wasn't playing just for the sake of getting a college
scholarship. But as he grew older and showcased his potential, Klinger
started to realize the possibility existed. Klinger's vision became a
reality when the blue chip recruit recently committed to play at
Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
14-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Yang Balances Tennis and Academics at Yale
The transition from high school to college is often challenging to
incoming freshmen, but Amy Yang welcomes it. Conventional wisdom
might say the Northview High School senior is biting off more than she
can chew by electing to play NCAA D-I tennis and major in medicine,
law or engineering at one of the nation's top academic institutions in
Yale, but Yang seems to be taking it all in stride.
13-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Kimberly Yee is a Cardinal
In 2008, Kimberly Yee was featured as one of the Class of 2015's
rising stars. Over the past six years, she has sustained that level of
blue chip excellence - achieving the top ranking in all age groups and
amassing a slew of USTA balls and titles. With her stellar tennis
credentials and matching academic achievements, Yee was courted by
some of the country's top schools - and she believes she chose the
perfect one for her: Stanford University.
13-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: How and When to Contact College Coaches II
Players and their families are sometimes unsure of how contact with
college tennis coaches works. Last month, we ran a roundtable article
where coaches commented on these communications. Today we have more
coaches responding to these questions: When should players contact
college coaches? What is the most effective way of reaching out?
13-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Robert Seby to Become a Bronco
When the time came to make a decision on playing college tennis,
Robert Seby had no doubt that Santa Clara University was the place. It
offered the right combination for this teen to want to sign up to play
in 2015.
12-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Lampl Heads West to Stanford
When you think of happy landings, think of Caroline Lampl. Lampl, a
Blue Chip recruit in the Class of 2015, flew across the country in
late September to visit her possible college destination. While she
was there, she decided she wanted to attend Stanford, a university
with a renowned academic reputation and unmatched women's tennis
tradition. But there was just one problem: She wasn't sure she would
get in.
12-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Dan Stefan Declares for the Commodores
St. Petersburg's Dan Stefan likes working with cars and engines, so
his tennis career should certainly be on the fast track now that he
has chosen to play at Vanderbilt University next year.
12-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Francesca DiLorenzo Chooses Ohio State
Talking with 2015 top female recruit
Francesca (Fran) DiLorenzo, I had to keep reminding myself that she's
only a senior in high school. This feisty, poised, well-spoken young
woman has a wisdom well beyond her 17 years. The Ohio State University
women's tennis team is getting quite a gem next Fall.
11-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Yates Set to Join Tiger Squad at Mizzou
When Turner Yates began her college search, among her top criteria
were joining the SEC and being part of a team that developed American
players. After weighing the options of several different
universities, not only did she feel that the University of Missouri
was the best fit, but there was also one quality about the Tiger
tennis team that stood out to her most of all - the feeling of being
part of a close-knit family.
11-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: National Roundup
Signing Week is now underway, and tomorrow seniors can start signing
their National Letters of Intent. Today, we check in with boys and
girls from across the country who are heading to a variety of schools.
Check out how several highly-ranked players came to their decisions...
in our National Roundup.
10-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Grayson Broadus to Notre Dame
Grayson Broadus of Carrollton, Texas, a five-star recruit, is a real
fighter. For the last six months, Broadus has been dealing with a
fractured hand, a hurt back, and a strained shoulder. But, being the
fighter that he is, Broadus is back in action. Appropriately, Broadus
made a commitment to become a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
men's tennis team.
10-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: How Young is Too Young to Start Recruiting?
When it comes to college tennis recruiting, one of the biggest fears
parents have is starting the process too late. They are afraid there
will be no more room on the teams and all the scholarships will be
gone by the time their child is recognized. Everyone wants to get
their child in front of coaches before it's too late, but how young is
too young to do this?
10-Nov-2014
Fall Signing Week '14: Overview and Blue Chip Update
With the "Countdown" behind us, on to the main event! We kick off our
coverage of Fall Signing Week '14 with a final look at the Blue Chip
boys and girls. We update you on several commitments over the past
few weeks, and we note that seven highly-ranked recruits plan to
announce their college choices this week - right here at
TennisRecruiting.net.
7-Nov-2014
Countdown: Golovin Geauxs to Tigers
Blue chip recruit Jessica Golovin didn't give much thought to college
tennis until this summer. The top recruit from New York was thinking
only of pro tennis until a discussion with her coach and an official
visit to LSU convinced her she would be wise to spend the next stage
of her tennis career in Baton Rouge.
6-Nov-2014
Countdown: Auteri Seizes Opportunity at Lehigh
Staten Island's Chris Auteri loves the word opportunity. As a top
junior player growing up in the New York City area, he had to make the
most of each opportunity, which includes limited court time playing
indoor tennis during the cold winter months. Auteri says he is also
grateful to Lehigh University Head Men's Tennis Coach Wouter Hendrix
for the opportunity to make a commitment to play tennis for the
Mountain Hawks.
5-Nov-2014
Countdown: Q&A with Alexandria Livingston of Saint Peters
In 2010, Alexandria Livingston was a standout tennis player at
Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J., who had committed to Saint
Peter's University. Fast forward four years, and Livingston has
completed her college tennis career and graduated from Saint Peter's.
Harry Cicma of NBC Sports recently talked with Livingston about her
college tennis experience.
4-Nov-2014
Countdown: Keeping an Open Mind
When we begin working with a new student athlete, the first assignment
calls for them to reach out to current college players and ask them a
set of questions about their experience as college athletes. One of
the final questions is: 'What advice do you have for my recruiting
process?' Two very common pieces of advice are (1) to be patient and
(2) to keep an open mind about schools.
3-Nov-2014
Countdown: Blue Chip Trio Commits to Duke
Blue chip seniors Catalin Mateas, Vincent Lin and Adrian Chamdani,
among the top in the Class of 2015, have verbally committed to Duke
University. Ryan Dickerson, with his five-star credentials, joins the
University as well, making Coach Ramsey Smith's Blue Devils one of the
best recruiting classes of the year.
2-Nov-2014
Images from the Atlanta ITF
Sam Riffice (Roseville, CA) and Kennedy Shaffer (Rossford, OH) won the
singles titles at last weekend's ITF Grade 4 event in Atlanta. Check
out great action shots we took at the tournament.
1-Nov-2014
Eleven Teens Highlight October Aces
October was full of treats especially for the teenagers competing
around the world. Although ITA Division I major champions were crowned
and Australia proved lucrative for one former college player, 11 teens
provided a glimpse of the tennis’s future last month.
30-Oct-2014
Countdown: Marie Norris Picks TCU
Marie Norris, a five-star recruit from Burdett, Kan., has given a
verbal commitment to become a member of the Texas Christian University
women's tennis team next fall. Norris, who has been a Blue Chip
recruit throughout her high school career and ranked among the nation's
Top 10, will take her two-handed backhand and aggressive style to the
Horned Frogs.
29-Oct-2014
Countdown: Tips from Junior Coaches
At High-Tech Tennis, we're in a unique position because we have access
to information that can help you transition from junior tennis to
college tennis. We have interacted with dozens of junior tennis
coaches who have walked the walk and are now talking the talk to help
you navigate the very exciting - but sometimes confusing - recruiting
process. Check out these lessons learned about college recruiting
from junior tennis coaches.
28-Oct-2014
Countdown: Andrew Gu to Santa Clara
As Andrew Gu began to explore the option of playing tennis
collegiately, the promising junior standout ideally hoped he would be
able to play at a university close to home. As the 16-year-old
Northern California-resident narrowed down his search, he learned that
he was on Santa Clara's radar. Upon visiting Santa Clara in January
of this year Gu became convinced the West Coast Conference school
located close to San Jose was a great fit for him.
27-Oct-2014
Countdown: How and When to Contact College Coaches
Although many serious junior tennis players want to play college
tennis, most do not understand how the recruiting process work. Many
players ask us why coaches are not reaching out to them, and we
explain to them that communications are almost always initiated by
the player. Players then want to know how best to do that. We put the
question to our panel of college coaches: When should players contact
college coaches? What is the most effective way of reaching out?
26-Oct-2014
Necker Cup Qualifying Photo Gallery
Qualifying for the Necker Cup took place last weekend from October 17
to October 19. Our photographers were onhand at the Life Time Athletic
Club in Peachtree Corners, Ga., to capture images from the event.
24-Oct-2014
Countdown: Blue Chip Boys
Last Friday, we visited with the senior Blue Chip girls to find out
how they are doing in the college recruiting process. Today, the boys
get their turn. How many have decided? Which players are still wide
open? And are any of them leaning towards your favorite school? Find
out now...
23-Oct-2014
Countdown: California Girl Gabby Andrews Chooses UCLA
Blue chip senior Gabby Andrews seriously considered another top
program thousands of miles away, but late last year the two-time
junior slam champion chose to complete the next phase of her tennis
career closer to her Pomona, California home when she verbally
committed to UCLA.
22-Oct-2014
Countdown: Asami's Inside Track to Pacific
Yuki Asami had an inside source when it came to researching University
of the Pacific. Asami's friend, Francis Dean, is a member of the UOP
women's tennis team, and Asami asked Dean several questions about the
school and the program. Once Dean realized Asami was interested in
attending UOP, she told head coach Charlotte Scatliffe about Asami.
Emails were exchanged, and Asami was soon on her way to Stockton.
21-Oct-2014
Countdown: Trending Toward Early Verbal Commitments
In the college tennis recruiting scene, it is becoming more and more
common to hear of verbal commitments to colleges occurring far earlier
than in recent history. In tennis, it is no longer unheard of to see
a player committing to a college during the first half of the junior
year. The prevailing message in the past has been to take one's time.
But while that remains sound advice, players should probably start
engaging in their search process earlier.
20-Oct-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - October '14
Today we announce the October edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
19-Oct-2014
Images from the 2014 Mike Agassi Tournament
Last weekend saw a number of USTA Closed Regional tournaments -
including the Mike Agassi No Quit in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tennis
Recruiting photographers were in town for the event, and we have
a number of great action shots.
17-Oct-2014
Countdown: Blue Chip Girls
We wrap up our first week of the Countdown to Signing Day with a look
at the top girls in the senior class. This year's Blue Chip recruits
talked with us about where they are in their decision processes. It's
still early, but many of the girls are starting to narrow in. Take a
look and see where things stand...
16-Oct-2014
Kingsley, Mmoh Claim ITF Pan American Closed Titles
Raveena Kingsley and Michael Mmoh took entirely different routes, yet
both emerged as champions at last week's ITF Grade B1 Pan American
Closed in Tulsa, Oklahoma. No. 3 seed Kingsley, who defeated unseeded
Claire Liu 6-1, 6-4 in the final, lost only one set in her six
victories, while top seed Mmoh saved match points in the quarterfinals
before taking the title with a 7-5, 6-3 win over No. 9 seed William
Blumberg.
15-Oct-2014
Countdown: College Prep Camps and Showcases
College tennis showcases are growing in popularity, mainly because of
the elimination of some USTA national tournaments and reduced draw
sizes. If you want to get recruited for a college tennis scholarship,
exposure is a key component to the process. When deciding whether to
attend a showcase, parents and players always have a lot of questions
and concerns. This article talks about how showcases work and how to
maximize your opportunities.
14-Oct-2014
Countdown: Big Blue Nation Welcomes Hussey
Austin Hussey, a five-star recruit from Edgewood, Ky., has decided to
become a member of the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's tennis
team. Hussey, ranked No. 1 in the Blue Grass State, will make the
short 75-mile journey to Lexington in the fall. He made the commitment
to Wildcats head coach Cedric Kauffmann last January.
13-Oct-2014
Countdown: Whalen At Home with Hoosiers
Natalie Whalen first picked up a tennis racquet at the age of four
during a summer vacation to Florida. It wasn't long before people took
notice of her smooth strokes. Fast forwarding to senior year, and the
Chicagoan narrowed her list to a pair of Big Ten programs. But after
meeting the Indiana team and head coach Lin Loring, she immediately
felt at home with the Hoosiers.
11-Oct-2014
Countdown: College Placement Tips
Mark Weil of the Weil Tennis Academy has shepherded hundreds of junior
tennis players through the college recruiting process, and he has
collected many valuable experiences during that time. Today, in our
first Countdown to Signing Day article, Weil scattershoots over
college tennis recruiting, talking about how to approach recruiting
- and how to make yourself an attractive recruit to college coaches.
10-Oct-2014
Countdown to Signing Day
In the world of junior tennis, Fall means Signing Day. November 12th
is is the first day of the one-week fall signing period - the only
opportunity this calendar year for seniors to sign a National Letter
of Intent with a Division I or Division II school. As always, The
Tennis Recruiting Network is here to keep you up to date on all the
happenings.
8-Oct-2014
Interview with USTA National Collegiate Coach Stephen Amritraj
Stephen Amritraj joined the USTA as a National Coach in January of
this year and was recently named its National Collegiate coach.
Amritraj played at Duke from 2002-2006, and after a brief stint on the
tour, began coaching ATP professionals in Southern California, where
he grew up. Colette Lewis of ZooTennis.com talked with Amritraj about
the USTA Collegiate Team program which assists American college
players as they transition to professional careers.
6-Oct-2014
ATA Fall Open Wrap-up
The Austin Tennis Academy/TennisRecruiting.net Fall Open, held from
Sept. 26-28, provided 370 junior players, in 33 events, the
opportunity to compete against participants from a variety of locales.
One of almost 40 tournaments in the National Showcase Series presented
by adidas adiplayer, this tournament was hosted by Austin Tennis Academy in Austin,
Texas.
5-Oct-2014
Action Shots from the ATA Fall Open
Last weekend, ATA hosted the first-ever Dunlop National Showcase
Tournament in the state of Texas. While there were plenty of Lone Star
State participants, some players traveled far for the event. Check out
action shots from the event in this photo gallery.
3-Oct-2014
US Open Juniors and Team Competition Highlight September Aces
Starting with the US Open Junior Championships and ending with the
International Tennis Federation's Junior Davis and Junior Fed Cup
competitions, September was bookended by major international
tournaments in North America. Yet for all the accomplishments of
teenagers from the United States and other countries, current and
former college players also claimed their share of titles on the
professional tours last month.
2-Oct-2014
A Word on Choking
When someone 'chokes' in a tennis match, there is an
assumption that the person is flawed in some way. This is very
misleading. Choking occurs when two separate and very unrelated parts
of the brain are in disagreement as to what action to take. The
ensuing stalemate results in an apparently inexplicable error. Ray Brown
of EASI Academy talks about the science of choking - and how to fight
against it.
30-Sep-2014
Early Versus Regular Signing Period
It is almost that time again. Every November, student athletes from
around the globe and college coaches from all divisions and leagues
get ready to sign the "National Letter of Intent" (NLI) or equivalent.
This is a document which commits the student for the season starting
the following fall semester. This early signing period is increasingly
gaining in popularity, both among players and coaches, but is it best
for everyone to sign early?
29-Sep-2014
Tips on Finding the Right College Program
As you begin the college search process, looking to balance your
academic and athletic needs, there are a few secrets that will help
you find a program that is right for you. Unfortunately, too many
players find themselves in a college tennis program where their game
stagnates, where they are athletically unchallenged, or perhaps find
themselves outside the starting lineup. Here are a few tips to
consider when choosing a college tennis program.
26-Sep-2014
NCAA Champion Nicole Gibbs Moves Up
Nicole Gibbs won her first ITF Women's Circuit title at the age of 14,
finished high school a year early and joined the Stanford Cardinal in
the fall of 2010. After an illustrious career at Stanford where she
won the NCAA team, singles, and doubles titles, Gibbs elected to
forego her senior year and begin her professional career. Fresh off
two main-draw wins at the US Open, Gibbs is now ranked in the Top 100.
Colette Lewis of ZooTennis chatted with Gibbs at the Open.
24-Sep-2014
Makarome Lives Up to Her Name, Commits to Columbia
Star Makarome credits her parents for some "creativity
points" with respect to her name - and believes it may have
helped her land a spot on a top college tennis program. The Wesley
Chapel, Florida teenager recently committed to attend Columbia
University in 2015 after an official visit on Sept. 8-9, just the two
days before her 17th birthday.
23-Sep-2014
The Impact of the Scoring System on Coaching
Over the past couple of years, there have been several experiments
with the format of college tennis - no-ad scoring, shortened sets,
third-set tiebreakers. A proposal to move to no-ad scoring for NCAA
Division I was tabled earlier this month. We put the question to
college coaches: What impact does the scoring system have on your
approach to preparing your team?
22-Sep-2014
Coaches Face Challenge of the College Pitch at US Open
School is already in session and the fall tennis season is well
underway, but a number of college coaches were missing the first few
days of team practice in order to scout the next crop of future
players at one of the world's premier tennis events - the US Open
junior tournament. At a tournament of this level, the challenge of
recruiting future players is perhaps a tougher task than what they
typically experience.
19-Sep-2014
First American Collegiate Invitational Popular Addition to US Open
Any tournament with a prize that could include a US Open main draw
wild card will draw the top college players regardless of its venue.
Put that event at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
during the second week of the US Open and interest surges, as it did
for the inaugural American Collegiate Invitational earlier this month.
17-Sep-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - September '14
Today we announce the September edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
16-Sep-2014
Kaitlyn McCarthy stays in-state with Blue Devils
Kaitlyn McCarthy the top-ranked senior of the Class of 2015,
shortlisted four of the country's outstanding schools: Florida, UNC,
Stanford and Duke. After visiting campuses, she narrowed them to
two - Duke and Florida. "It was a tough decision, both schools are
really great," said the blue chip recruit. With lots of family in
the area, location dictated her outcome. Home is Cary, North Carolina,
a 20-minute drive from Duke, where McCarthy will enter in Fall 2015.
12-Sep-2014
Unseeded Jasika, Bouzkova Capture US Open Junior Titles
Marin Cilic was undoubtedly a surprise winner of the US Open men's
title, but he was seeded. Australia's Omar Jasika of Australia, who
defeated No. 5 seed Quentin Halys of France 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the boys
final, and the Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova, who downed No. 9 seed
Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine 6-4, 7-6(5) for the girls championship,
both won US Open junior titles last week despite being unseeded and
ranked outside the Top 30.
10-Sep-2014
How Much Should a Junior Tennis Player Train?
Many junior tennis players spend countless hours on the court. "No
pain, no gain" - as the saying goes. For juniors with developing
bodies, it is easy to overdo it. How much is too much? Valery
Yalouskikh of TennisConsult.com stops by to discuss recommendations
from sports scientists.
8-Sep-2014
Sophie Chang Commits to the Wahoos
When Sophie Chang was still in elementary school, she didn't know
much about college tennis, but she had an idea that she wanted to head
south to Virginia. Surely enough, that is what will happen. Chang, a
homeschooled Blue Chip rising senior from Havre de Grace, Md., has
committed to play for the Virginia Cavaliers, who have become one of
the nation's top programs in the past few seasons under Mark
Guilbeau's coaching.
5-Sep-2014
August Aces
With one exception, the USTA National champions, all of whom received
an article devoted to their victories last month on Tennis Recruiting
Network, aren't included in this August Aces colum. But another round
of congratulations are in order for Noah Rubin, John McNally, Kylie
McKenzie, William Woodall, Caty McNally, Zane Khan and Katie Volynets
for their championship runs as we look back on the other outstanding
performances in August.
3-Sep-2014
Five Things You Need to Know About the College Recruiting Process
For most junior tennis players, playing in college is the next goal.
Your performance, behavior, and preparation both on and off the court
in high school are getting you ready for college and college tennis.
Here are five things to keep in mind as you think about the future...
2-Sep-2014
Fear in Tennis
Tennis is an eye-to-eye combative sport. Unlike team sports or
individual sports, tennis is an one-on-one combative contest of wills,
stamina and skill. In this respect, tennis stimulates a part of the
brain that is millions of years old and which evolved to ensure our
survival in a primitive hostile environment - and it causes Fear.
1-Sep-2014
Tennis Recruiting Welcomes the Class of 2021
Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. School starts back up, and
there are new sixth-graders walking the halls. This week's rankings
at the Tennis Recruiting Network are the first of the 2014-15 season -
and they also mark the arrival of the Class of 2021.
29-Aug-2014
Americans Poised to Shine in US Open Junior Championships
While the US men and women haven't had a Grand Slam finalist in 2014,
the country's younger players have had more success in the top level
of international competition, with Noah Rubin winning the Wimbledon
boys title and Stefan Kozlov reaching the final there and at the
Australian Open. With both the top seed and the 2013 finalist in the
girls draw and six of the 16 seeds in the boys draw, the US juniors
are poised for another outstanding showing at the US Open.
26-Aug-2014
Blue Chip Victor Pham Commits to Columbia
From the outside, it seemed like the obvious choice. Victor Pham's
older brother attended Columbia and was a member of the tennis team.
Most people figured Pham would pick the school to prolong the family
tradition. But Pham wanted to choose the school that was the best fit
for him, and he didn't want anything to influence his decision. After
doing thorough research and visiting several colleges, Pham decided
the obvious choice was the right choice.
25-Aug-2014
Opelka, Kalinskaya Claim ITF International Hard Court Titles
Top seed Anna Kalinskaya of Russia and unseeded Reilly Opelka picked
up their first ITF Grade 1 titles Saturday at the International Hard
Court Championships in College Park, Maryland. Kalinskaya won when No.
2 seed Gabby Ruse of Romania retired trailing 6-2, 2-1, while Opelka
overcame No. 2 seed Tim Van Rijthoven of the Netherlands 4-6, 6-4,
7-6(4).
23-Aug-2014
Premiere of Inside College Tennis with Tony Minnis at Wichita State
The Bill Rodman Production Shoppe has completed production of the 4th
episode of Inside College Tennis and premieres on Tennis Channel
featuring Wichita State University. The show premieres tonight,
Saturday, August 23rd at 10pm ET, on The Tennis Channel. Meet Colin
Foster, Head Women's Coach and Brad Louderback, Head Men's Coach is
this episode and come to understand why each coach says: "Our team is
a like family."
22-Aug-2014
Musings on Proposed ITA/NCAA Division I Format Changes
The ITA recently announced a number of changes to NCAA Division I
competition starting this fall. The most notable changes are a move to
"no-ad" rather than traditional scoring and shortening doubles from an
eight-game pro set to one standard six-game set. These changes have
been met with strong feelings on both sides, and there are many
coaches and players on both sides of this debate. This article offers
our thoughts - in the context of many other articles on the issue.
21-Aug-2014
ITA Announces New Division I Dual Match Format
The ITA will be inaugurating a new, shorter dual meet format for
Division I college tennis beginning at the start of the 2014-15
season. Highlighting the format changes are switches to no-ad scoring
from regular scoring, one set of doubles rather than an 8-game pro set
and no warm-up with opponents.
20-Aug-2014
Hampton Heads South to Sun Devil Territory
As one can imagine, growing up as a tennis player in the Northwest can
limit your options for playing outdoors. Which is partly why
Washington's top-ranked junior, Samantha Hampton, has decided to head
south for the next four years. The Blue Chip senior from Vancouver,
Wash., announced she will head to sunny Tempe to join the Arizona
State University women's tennis team as a freshman next fall.
19-Aug-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - August '14
Today we announce the August edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
18-Aug-2014
Kyle Mautner to Penn
As a teenager, Kyle Mautner's goals have always been to get as many
training hours on the court as possible while still getting good
grades in school. Now a 5-Star senior, Mautner's focus on tennis and
school is paying off - as he looks forward to Ivy League education
while playing tennis at the University of Pennsylvania.
17-Aug-2014
Images from the Boys' 18s and 16s Nationals
One last bonus prize in our coverage of Championship Week - a photo
gallery featuring images of the USTA Boys' 18 and 16 Nationals from
Kalamazoo, Michigan. Tennis photographer Bill Kallenberg from Captured
In Action was onhand to capture the event...
15-Aug-2014
Rubin Collects Two Titles, Two Wild Cards
Noah Rubin's summer went from great to extraordinary in the just over
a month. In July, the 18-year-old New Yorker won the Wimbledon boys
title as an unseeded qualifier. Last week he trumped that with two
titles at Kalamazoo, defeating defending champion Collin Altamirano
6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the singles final, after joining with Stefan Kozlov
to take the doubles championships, and in the process earning two US
Open main draw wild cards.
15-Aug-2014
CiCi Bellis Defeats Black to Claim 18s
Before even stepping onto the court at the USTA Girls' 18s National
Championships, CiCi Bellis had her trip booked to the U.S. Open. But
Bellis wanted an upgrade in her playing status in New York. Instead
of just playing against the juniors, the 15-year-old from Atherton,
Calif., wanted a shot at the professionals. Bellis earned that chance
by capturing the hardcourt title at the Barnes Tennis Center in San
Diego.
14-Aug-2014
McNally Sweeps 16s Kalamazoo Titles
John McNally definitely had a target on his back entering the 16s USTA
National Championships. The Easter Bowl and Clay Courts champion was
57-1 this year entering the tournament. At the end of the week,
McNally had extended his singles record to 64-1 and earned two more USTA
gold balls.
14-Aug-2014
Kylie McKenzie Completes Run at Girls 16s
During her early-round matches at the USTA Girls 16s National
Championships Kylie McKenzie was not only building momentum, she was
dismantling the field in impressive fashion. The 15-year-old blue chip
recruit from Anthem, Ariz., maintained that same high level of play
the rest of the week and went on to capture the title with a 6-1, 6-4
victory over No. 2 seed Kayla Day of Santa Barbara at the Barnes
Center.
13-Aug-2014
William Woodall Wins Boys 14 Singles
William Woodall of Washington, D.C., put on a blue chip performance in
winning the USTA Boys 14 National Singles Championship on August 8 in San Antonio.
Woodall, the tournament's No. 5 seed, took out a scrappy 17th-seeded
Bill Duo of Portage, Mich., 6-1, 6-3 to capture his first USTA gold
ball.
13-Aug-2014
Caty McNally Plays Up, Wins USTA Girls' 14s Title
At age 12, Caty McNally became one of the youngest singles and doubles
champions at the USTA Girls 14 National Championships last week in
Peachtree City, Ga. The rising seventh-grader at Madeira Middle
School in Cincinnati didn't lose a set in her seven singles matches
and defeated third-seeded Taylor Johnson of Redondo Beach, Calif.,
6-3, 6-2 in the final.
12-Aug-2014
Khan Twins Dominate Boys 12s in Little Rock
They may not yet be the most famous twins in tennis, but Zane and
Faris Khan certainly are making their presence known in the junior
tennis circuit. So far, the blue chip brothers have altogether won
four gold USTA balls, three silver and four bronze. Zane has the upper
hand for now, pulling a title over Faris 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 at the 2014
Boys 12s National Hard Court Championship.
12-Aug-2014
Volynets Cruises to Girls 12 National Title
When Walnut Creek, California's, Katie Volynets looked across the net
during the USTA Girls 12 National Championships last week, she saw
something she wasn't accustomed to seeing. An opponent her own age.
The 12-year old Volynets has spent a lot of time competing with older
players, and she used that experience to defeat sixth-seeded Sedona
Gallagher 6-0; 6-3, to claim a gold ball and the 12s title.
11-Aug-2014
Images from the Girls' 14s and 12s Nationals
The Girls' 14s and 12s are both in the Atlanta area - in the backyard
of TennisRecruiting.net. Our photographers were in Peachtree City and
Alpharetta to capture images from the events.
11-Aug-2014
Hard Court Championship Week
Last week, the best American juniors were competing for gold balls at
the USTA National Championships all across the country. National
titles were awarded for both boys and girls in all four age divisions.
TennisRecruiting.net and Van Der Meer Academy announce our
Championship Week coverage - with photo galleries and articles that
celebrate the best of the best in junior tennis.
8-Aug-2014
Approaching the Official Visit
Visits to colleges and college tennis programs - whether they are
unofficial or official - are often make-or-break moments in the
college recruiting process. Both junior tennis players and coaches try
to learn all they can about each other in a short period of time. What
should you learn? We put the question to a number of recent graduates:
If you had it to go over again, how would you approach visits to
schools? What would most want to learn?
6-Aug-2014
July Aces
The July aces do not include the Clay Court champions, all of whom
received extensive coverage last month during Tennis Recruiting
Network's Clay Championship Week. But that doesn't mean there's any
shortage of top performances, with a hefty 16 in this month's review.
5-Aug-2014
Rice Owls Claim Top-ranked Texan Jacob Hansen
Most rising seniors see college as the next step to an independent
life away from family. For Blue-Chip-to-be recruit Jacob Hansen,
however, his decision was mostly determined by the fact that his
parents finally settled in Texas after years of living overseas. The
Hansens relocated to Houston, home to Rice University, where Jacob has
verbally committed to play in Fall 2015.
4-Aug-2014
Changes in NCAA Contact Rules
With recent changes in NCAA recruiting contact rules, the summer has
become an important time for families managing the tennis recruiting
process. Check out changes that every tennis family and all prospective
student athletes need to know...
3-Aug-2014
Midwest Repeats at USTA Boys Team Championship
The calendar might say 2014, but everything looked the same as last
year at the USTA Boys' 18 Team Championship at the University of
Illinois in Urbana. The Atkins Tennis Center was once again lit
brightly by the sun on a perfect 75 degree day, the Midwest team beat
the Southern team, and Northern California repeated as third place
winners.
2-Aug-2014
Altamirano, Donaldson and Rubin Head Stellar Field at Kalamazoo
Collin Altamirano returns to Kalamazoo to defend his 2013 18s title,
but the fact that the 18-year-old Californian is not an overwhelming
favorite, and the fifth seed, speaks to the tremendous field gathered
for the tournament's 72nd year.
31-Jul-2014
Conversation with Tech Assistant Coach Derek Schwandt
Georgia Tech Assistant Coach Derek Schwandt has done it all - a
two-time All-Atlantic 10 player in college at Richmond, three years on
the ITF futures and ATP challengers tour, and a top college assistant
coach. Schwandt is also a coach of the USTA Collegiate National Team -
a training program that helps top American college players transition
to professional tennis. Harry Cicma of NBC Sports recently talked
with Schwandt about all things tennis.
29-Jul-2014
What Coaches Look For on Official Visits (Pt. 2)
We recently invited college tennis coaches to comment on official
college visits: what they look for in student athletes - and what most
impresses them. We showed comments from a number of coaches earlier in
the month, but we have thoughts from more coaches. This second
installment contains more insights on the official visit...
28-Jul-2014
Transition from Junior to College Tennis
Over the last ten years, I have seen junior tennis player struggle
with the transition into college tennis. Changes occur in your
training, competition, team structure and academics. It has sometimes
resulted in extreme cases where the student-athlete cannot handle the
pressure and has to leave school indefinitely. Here are a few key
changes you should be ready for - and advice on how to best prepare
yourself for success.
25-Jul-2014
Stewart's Streak Continues in Girls 18s Clays
When Katerina Stewart lost in the quarterfinals of a pro tournament
back in March, she couldn't have known she would go the next four
months without losing a match, and only one set. When Stewart defeated
Kennedy Shaffer 6-1, 6-3 in the final of the Girls 18s Clay Courts,
she not only collected a first singles gold ball on her favorite
surface, but also extended her winning streak to 34 matches in
professional and junior competition.
25-Jul-2014
Paul Repeats Win at Boys 18 Clays in Delray
Some things at the Delray Beach Tennis Center never change - high
temperatures, rain delays, and Tommy Paul winning. "I always play
really well here," said Paul at the end of the USTA Boys' 18 National
Clay Court Championships. Paul wrapped up his second consecutive USTA
Gold Ball at the Clays...
24-Jul-2014
Liu Leads California Contingent in Girls' 16
A few miles from the ocean, Southern Californians dominated the USTA
Girls 16 National Clay Court Championships, taking the top three
places in singles and the runner-up honors in doubles. The ATLANTIC
Ocean, that is. Not the Pacific. During the tournament week, dozens of
spectators gathered at Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club to see
which Californian would earn the gold ball in singles - and the answer
was Claire Liu.
24-Jul-2014
McNally Continues Hot 2014 at 16s Clays
It has been quite a run for John McNally. The talented teen from
Cincinnati, Ohio swept through his competition at the USTA Boys' 16
Clay Court National Championships in Delray Beach, Florida by not
losing a set all week and captured the third gold ball of his career
with a 6-2; 6-2 victory over San Diego, California's Jacob Brumm.
23-Jul-2014
Unseeded Emma Sweeps Girls 14 Clay Courts
It wasn't an easy task. Victoria Emma had to fight through the
soaring temperatures, hot sun, rain, and much higher ranked opponents,
but she got past all the obstacles and took home her first two Gold
Balls from the USTA Girls' 14 Clay Court Championships.
23-Jul-2014
Keenan Mayo Takes Boys 14 Clay Trophy
It was a hot, wet and muggy week in Fort Lauderdale for the USTA
National Boys 14 Clay Court Championships. It's hard to say that was
really unusual, but what was rare was that there were no players in
doubles and singles finals, not a lot of upsets, and a whole lot of
Californians in the winners' circle - including singles champion
Keenan Mayo.
22-Jul-2014
Gauff Takes First National in Girls' 12s
While the last remaining spectators were wiping sweat from their brows
in the 96 degree heat, Cori Gauff was all smiles when she came off the
court. Winning a gold ball in singles and a silver ball in doubles
will at the Girls' 12 USTA National Clay Court Championships will
usually do that for you.
22-Jul-2014
Zane Wins Battle of the Khans in the 12s
It has become common for twins and siblings to win doubles
championships in the tennis universe. But rarely do twins face each
other in a singles championship match. That was the case on July 19 as
Zane and Faris Khan battled each other for the USTA Boys 12 Clay
Courts gold ball. The winner was fifth seeded-Zane Khan, who defeated
the No. 11 Faris Khan 1-6, 6-0, 6-0 at the Randy Pate Tennis Academy.
21-Jul-2014
Clay Court Championship Week
The USTA Clay Court Championships have concluded around the country.
This week, TennisRecruiting.net has roundups of all the action from
the Boys' 12s to the Girls' 18s - from Virginia Beach to Fort
Lauderdale. Check out coverage of all the tournaments - and meet the
latest gold ball winners of all ages. Get ready... for Clay Court
Championship Week.
20-Jul-2014
Action Shots from the Georgia Junior Open
As we get to the heart of the summer, there are many great tournaments
on the calendar. One popular event on the Dunlop National Showcase
Series schedule is the Georgia Junior Open - with almost 700 players
from 15 different states. Check out this photo gallery of the event -
presented by Advantage Tennis Academy...
18-Jul-2014
Conversation with Former D-III Champion William Boe-Wiegaard
Former Bates standout William Boe-Wiegaard had one of the more amazing
runs in NCAA Division III tennis. He is the only Bobcat ever to be an
All-American all four years in college, and he capped things off with
an amazing run to the NCAA singles title his senior year as an
unseeded player. Since graduating, Boe-Wiegaard has been involved with
tennis as an instructor, and he has been competing professionally
since 2011. Harry Cicma of NBC Sports caught up with Boe-Wiegaard.
16-Jul-2014
What Impact Did the Top 100 Girls from 2013 Have as Freshman?
Last week, Scholarship for Athletes investigated the impact the Top
100 Boys from the 2013 class had on their college teams as freshmen.
This week, they cover the Top 100 Girls from the same recruiting
class. The ladies performed a little bit better...
14-Jul-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - July '14
Today we announce the July edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
11-Jul-2014
Rubin Wins Wimbledon Title as US Boys Shine
Competitors from the United States didn't perform well in men's and
women's singles at Wimbledon, with none in the fourth round for the
first time since 1911. But American juniors picked up the slack,
claiming seven of the 16 quarterfinal berths and both finalists in the
boys championship match, won by qualifier Noah Rubin 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
over No. 6 seed Stefan Kozlov.
10-Jul-2014
What Impact Did the Top 100 Boys from 2013 Have as Freshman?
Scholarship for Athletes took the time to research the Top 100 boys
from the Class of 2013 to analyze the impact that they had on their
teams as freshman. How many matches did they play? How did they do? And
how much did their performance impact the team?
8-Jul-2014
What Coaches Look For on Official Visits
Perhaps the most exciting part of the recruiting process is the
Official Visit - where schools brings prospective athletes (and often
their parents) to campus for a weekend visit. Coaches use these
visits as key recruiting tools, and the experiences are often huge
factors in players' decisions. We put the question to college coaches:
What are you looking for in recruits during official visits? What most
impresses you?
6-Jul-2014
Images from the Gator Bowl
One of the more popular events on the Dunlop National Showcase Series
is the Gator Bowl - with more than 200 participants. We had
photographers on hand to capture action shots from the event. Take a
look...
4-Jul-2014
Southern California Junior Sectionals Wrapup
Hundreds of the best junior tennis players in Southern California
gathered at Fountain Valley, Calif., and other nearby venues last week
to compete in the 112th annual Southern California Junior Sectionals.
After Sunday's final day of competition, one talented star added to
her impressive resume, while several others also tasted victory at
this prestigious tournament.
3-Jul-2014
One Thing That is Constant in This World: Change
This summer, more than a dozen major Division I men's and women's
tennis head coaching jobs have changed hands. These jobs were filled
by other head coaches, continuing the ripple effect. High school
athletes, should be aware of this so-called "coaching carousel".
Those who understand that the chances of keeping the same coach
throughout a college career are dicey can make better decisions during
the recruiting process.
2-Jul-2014
June Aces
June starts with clay and ends on grass, at least for the top
professionals and world-class juniors. But hard courts hosted their
fair share of the month's top performances too with former college
players and US teens building impressive winning streaks on both hard
courts and the Har-Tru clay.
1-Jul-2014
Tate Allwardt to Vanderbilt
Tate Allwardt enjoys the challenges that tennis brings. "I really
enjoy competing," said Allwardt, 17, of Boca Raton. "I am a very
competitive person, and the one-on-one nature of tennis creates an
extremely competitive environment. Next year, Allwardt will take his
competitive outlook to Vanderbilt University - when he competes for
Commodores this coming fall.
29-Jun-2014
Conversation with UConn's Sam Sutherland
Stability has been a watchword of UConn tennis. Glenn Marshall, who
now serves as Director of Tennis, has overseen the tennis programs for
21 years. Michael Louis '04 took over as head coach of the men's
tennis program prior to the 2013-14 season. One of Louis' teammates as
a player at UConn was sam Sutherland '05, a standout from Tampa,
Fla. Harry Cicma of NBC Sports, who served as the commentator for
the live webcast of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, caught up with
Sutherland.
27-Jun-2014
The Value of Front Court Skills in College Tennis
I've had several recruits ask for training suggestions as they make
the transition to college. A common theme between the three programs
I've been part of the past few years has been the amount of work put
into developing doubles skills, especially with freshmen. Recruiting
players who can make immediate contributions to the doubles lineup has
become harder to do, so my suggestion to young players in general is
to develop the ability to play the net.
26-Jun-2014
Kennedy Shaffer Heads Between the Hedges
Kennedy Shaffer should fit right in next year as a member of the
University of Georgia's women's tennis team. The mascot for the school
is a Bulldog, and Shaffer's tenacity both on and off the court should
serve her well. The 17-year-old from Rossford, Ohio, recently made a
verbal commitment to attend the University of Georgia in 2015.
25-Jun-2014
University of Southern Kal: Boyd Chooses USC
From an outsider's perspective, Kalman Boyd's college recruiting
process should have been an easy one. Much of his family attended USC,
and his grandfather coached the basketball team. But tennis recruiting
is a two-way street, and it isn't easy to claim a spot on a team that
has won five of the past six NCAA Division I titles. But when Boyd
visited campus and received an offer, he was excited to commit to the
Trojans tennis squad the next day.
24-Jun-2014
American Collegiate Invitational to Debut at US Open
When sixteen American collegians take the courts late in the second
week of this year's American Collegiate Invitational at the US Open,
they will enjoy the same perks and surroundings as professionals
Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal. The college players will not share
in the millions of dollars of prize money, but they can collect
something the pros cannot - a guarantee of entry for the following year.
23-Jun-2014
Tennis Recruiting Welcomes Tennis Express
If you've been on the TennisRecruiting.net website the last few days, you may
have noticed that we have a brand new online store. Tennis Express, a
leading full-service tennis retailer, is our new platinum sponsor, and we
are very excited about it. Tennis Express provides a fantastic online
experience - great tennis products at competitive prices with
fantastic customer service. Check it out...
22-Jun-2014
SFA Interviews Danielle Lao
Jake Hartman of SFA sat down with Danielle Lao a former USC women’s
tennis player. Danielle is currently on the professional tennis tour,
and she recently wrote a book about her college tennis experience
titled The Invaluable Experience. She was interviewed about her
recruiting process, how she chose USC, and how her time there has
benefited her today.
20-Jun-2014
2014 Top NCAA Division III Women's Classes
The Tennis Recruiting Network wraps up its spring recruiting class
rankings with a look at the D-III women. Today we present our list
of the Top 25 NCAA D-III women's recruiting classes for 2014. Once
again, the Eagles soar at the top of the rankings.
19-Jun-2014
The Role of College Tennis in Isner, Johnson and Burdette's Pro Success
College tennis is a team game, a prime reason for its popularity,
particularly among US-born juniors. After years of focusing on
individual results in junior tournaments, collegians have an
opportunity to perform for the benefit of their teammates, most of
whom become lifelong friends. Yet many of the top college players
also have their sights set on professional careers, using their years
in college to mature and develop while competing and studying.
17-Jun-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - June '14
Today we announce the June edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
16-Jun-2014
2014 Top NCAA Division III Men's Classes
The Tennis Recruiting Network presents its recruiting class rankings
for NCAA Division III conferences. Today we present our Top 25 D-III
men's recruiting classes for 2014. The top class this year comes in
a distinct shade of Maroon - and from the Windy City.
15-Jun-2014
Georgia Junior Challenger Photo Gallery
Things heat up in the summer, and the Georgia Junior Challenger
was no exception. Check out great photos from the event...
13-Jun-2014
2014 Top Mid-Major Women's Classes
TennisRecruiting.net picks up where it left off on Monday with more
rankings of mid-major recruiting classes. Today we present the Top 25
mid-major women's recruiting classes for 2014. Check out the Owls - who
are soaring at the top of the rankings.
11-Jun-2014
Meet ITA Rookie of the Year Brayden Schnur
Eighteen-year-old Canadian Brayden Schnur didn't begin his freshman
year at the University of North Carolina until January, but he had an
enormous impact on the Tar Heels in his first five months in Chapel
Hill.
10-Jun-2014
Create a Winning Summer Tennis Schedule
As a competitive junior tennis player, summer holidays provide you the
best chance to improve your tennis game and get maximum exposure for a
college scholarship. College coaches are out recruiting at various
tournaments and training camps around the U.S. and internationally.
Taking advantage of these few months can really make an impact in your
future college tennis career. It starts with creating a well
thought-out summer tennis schedule.
9-Jun-2014
2014 Top Mid-Major Men's Classes
The Tennis Recruiting Network continues its series of recruiting
class rankings with the first of our mid-major conference rankings.
Today we present the Top 25 mid-major men's recruiting classes for
2014... and please steer clear of the Cougars.
8-Jun-2014
Q&A with USC senior Ray Sarmiento
Last month, USC won its 21st NCAA title in men's tennis - and the
school's 100th NCAA title overall. The Tennis Trojans were led by
senior Ray Sarmiento, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding
Player. Harry Cicma of NBC Sports, who served as the commentator for
the live webcast, talked with Sarmiento after the event.
6-Jun-2014
May Aces
May produced a whopping 18 aces, with current and former college
players highlighting last month's performances. Europe's red clay also
hosted some notable achievements, as did the hard courts of Korea,
Mexico and Tunisia.
5-Jun-2014
Seelig Makes Early Commitment to Ohio State
Kyle Seelig wasn't interested in a long, drawn out recruiting process.
Anxious to see his hard work pay off, the Blue Chip recruit visited
six top programs before the end of his junior year in high school.
Following his fast and furious recruiting process, Seelig committed to
join the Ohio State Buckeyes in the fall of 2015.
4-Jun-2014
Talking About the New Balance HS Tennis Championships
We chat with Bruce Schilling, General Manager of Tennis for New
Balance, about the first-ever New Balance High School Tennis
Championship to be held at Harvard University in July.
2-Jun-2014
Top Women's Classes - 2014 Spring Rankings
Our Recruiting Class Rankings continue with a look at the ladies.
Tennis Recruiting is proud to present its spring rankings of the Top
25 Women's College Tennis Recruiting Classes of 2014. Once again, the
Florida Gators are making themselves at home in the top spot.
1-Jun-2014
Images from the 2014 North Georgia Open
The most recent National Showcase took place in Rome, Georgia: the
North Georgia Open Championships. Take a look at action shots from
the tournament...
30-May-2014
Virginia's Danielle Collins, UCLA's Marcos Giron Claim NCAA Singles Titles
It was NCAA singles title No. 1 for Virginia and No. 11 for UCLA, as
Cavalier Danielle Collins and Bruin Marcos Giron stood alone at the
end of six hot and humid days of NCAA Division I singles competition
at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of
Georgia.
29-May-2014
Quick Take with John McEnroe
If you look at the top American men on the professional stage, you'll
notice a common thread - most of them played college tennis. One of their
forerunners was John McEnroe, who attended Stanford for a year and won
the NCAA singles title before moving on to the professional ranks.
Harry Cicma of NBC Sports asked McEnroe a few questions with a college
focus recently in New York.
28-May-2014
Amherst Wins D-III Men's Tennis Championhip, Emory Takes Women's Title
The Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, Calif., was the site
of the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Tennis Championships May
19-24. The fourth-ranked Amherst Lord Jeffs men's team won its second
NCAA team title with a 5-3 victory over the top-ranked and host
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags. On the women's side, top-ranked Emory
won its sixth NCAA title with a 5-1 decision over No. 2 Amherst.
26-May-2014
Top Men's Classes - 2014 Spring Rankings
The Tennis Recruiting Network is excited to present its
spring ranking of the Top 25 Men's Recruiting Classes for 2014. New
commitments have brought three new teams to the rankings, shaking up
the Top 25. The program with the No. 25 recruiting class back in
January has risen all the way up to No. 2. But the top spot still has
a certain... Cardinality.
23-May-2014
USC Men, UCLA Women Reign in Division I Team Championships
The 2014 NCAA Division I Team Championships in Athens, Georgia
featured plenty of rain and two new faces in the final, but when
Tuesday came to close, the Pac-12 had secured both titles. Top seed
University of Southern California defeated No. 2 seed Oklahoma 4-2 to
claim its fifth men's title in the past six years, while No. 5 seed
UCLA won its second women's championship with a scintillating 4-3
victory over No. 7 seed North Carolina.
21-May-2014
What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?
The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies the academic and amateur
credentials of all college-bound student-athletes who wish to compete
in NCAA Division I or II athletics. Ultimately, the individual
student-athlete is responsible for achieving and protecting his or her
eligibility status, but the NCAA Eligibility Center is eager to
cooperate with all parties to ensure a smooth transition to
NCAA sports.
19-May-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - May '14
Today we announce the May edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
16-May-2014
Daniell Commits to Tide for 2015
Blue Chip junior Andie Daniell has grown to 5'11" - and has grown into
one of the top junior tennis players in the country. Recently, the
powerful right-hander verbally committed to play college tennis for
Coach Jenny Mainz and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
14-May-2014
Daniel Rayl Picks Notre Dame
Blue Chip recruit Daniel Rayl of Carmel, Ind., intends on becoming a
member of the University of Notre Dame men's tennis team. Daniel,
ranked No. 24 in the Class of 2015, will have to wait until next fall
to wear the blue and gold of the Fighting Irish. Daniel, who attends
the private Park Tudor School in nearby Indianapolis, recently made a
verbal commitment to Notre Dame first-year coach Ryan Sachire.
12-May-2014
New Changes to the SAT Test
In March, College Board announced several changes to the SAT that will
impact the class of 2017 and beyond. Check out the changes - and see how
they impact student-athletes.
9-May-2014
NCAA Tournament Roundtable - Part II
The NCAA Division I Tennis Championships start today. The top men's
and women's college tennis programs face off in first-round action
across the country, with all teams competing for tickets to
Athens, Ga., and a spot in the Sweet 16. Check out insights
from our college tennis contributors - and see who they picked as
darkhorses and champions.
7-May-2014
A Conversation with Steve Johnson
For college tennis fans, Steve Johnson needs no introduction. At USC,
Johnson won an unprecedented four NCAA team titles and two NCAA
singles titles, ending his collegiate career on a 72-match winning
streak. With just one full year behind him on the ATP tour, he now
stands as the third-ranked American at No. 69. Colette Lewis caught
up with Johnson to talk about all things tennis...
6-May-2014
Call for Simultaneous Format in College Dual Matches
A huge issue for college tennis today is figuring out how to reduce
the time it takes to complete a match while at the same time ensuring
that doubles continues to be an integral part of a match. To date, we
have experimented with changing scoring and rules, but competitive
matches are still too long. We can do better. The problem can be
easily resolved by having both doubles and singles matches played at
the same time - the simultaneous format.
5-May-2014
NCAA Tournament Roundtable - Part I
This weekend, the NCAA Division I Tennis Championships get underway.
64 men's and women's college tennis teams will head to campus venues
around the country to compete in first- and second-round action. The
winners will make up the Sweet 16 and head to Athens, Ga., to compete
for the team title. Today, our college tennis contributors preview
the "Big Dance" of college tennis.
2-May-2014
April Aces
Ranging from age 14 to 25, the April aces have accomplishments on all
levels of the game - from a WTA title in Malaysia to ITF Grade 4 junior
events in the Caribbean and virtually every level in between.
1-May-2014
Preparing for Success in College Tennis
Over the next few weeks, college tennis recruits who did not commit
early will be making their college decisions. Many will be signing a
National Letter of Intent or sending in a deposit - committing to a
college or university. Recruits for 2014 have nearly all made their
decisions... now what?
28-Apr-2014
Ohio State Downs Illinois 4-2 to Claim Big Ten Tournament Championship
With nine consecutive Big Ten regular season conference championships
and eight of the last nine conference tournament championships, the
Ohio State Buckeyes could be forgiven for taking such accomplishments
lightly. There was no complacency in Sunday's tournament final against
the University of Illinois however, with the Buckeyes exacting some
revenge in their 4-2 victory at the Michigan State Outdoor Tennis
Courts.
25-Apr-2014
Talking with USTA's Tom Gullikson
If you've been to a major junior tournament in the United States this
year, you've probably seen USTA Lead National Coach Tom Gullikson
there - watching matches and talking with players, parents and coaches,
both formally and one-on-one. Colette Lewis spoke with Gullikson
during the USTA Spring Team Championships, where he gave his insights
on a number of tennis issues.
24-Apr-2014
Scattershooting Around the Men's College Game
During a dual season in which many schools have negotiated difficult
schedules, overcome adversity and tweaked lineups, the men's Division
I season has now reached the conference tournaments. Rivalries will be
renewed this weekend and a few more questions might be answered, but
what we have seen the past three months from all regions of the
country tells us there are perhaps ten teams capable of capturing the
NCAA championship.
22-Apr-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - April '14
Today we announce the April edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
21-Apr-2014
Tiafoe, Bellis Capture Easter Bowl ITF Titles
Francis Tiafoe and CiCi Bellis have similar international junior
accomplishments, and they both had great experiences at the Easter
Bowl earlier this month. Both the 16-year-old Tiafoe and 15-year-old
Bellis left the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the tournament's new
site, with Easter Bowl ITF singles titles.
19-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Bridgham Joins Flyer Family
The college tennis recruiting process can be difficult to navigate,
each school with its own unique set of pros and cons. But a specific
academic aim can simplify things, immediately knocking out
otherwise attractive options. That was the case for Marlys Bridgham.
An aspiring engineer, the Five Star recruit knew just what she was
looking for, and an email from Dayton head coach Ryan Meyer showed
her a perfect fit.
18-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Why NAIA?
Peter Green talks with college tennis coaches at NAIA institutions
about the tennis experience at NAIA schools - and what differentiates
an NAIA program from NCAA programs.
18-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Maese Commits to Boise State
After almost a year of international competition and intense tennis
training, Daniel Maese decided to return home to Texas. As his senior
year was quickly coming to a close, Maese gave up his tennis
activities momentarily so he could focus on academics. It was then that
his coach suggested he check out Boise State, and three months after
the initial contact, the four-star Texan committed to Coach Patton's Broncos.
17-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Austin Bates Follows March Madness to FGCU
Each March, the country is transfixed on March Madness, with fans
filling out their brackets and rooting for underdogs. Austin Bates
was among the millions that followed the run of the Florida Gulf Coast
University's men's basketball team to the "Sweet 16" in 2013. Then a
light went on. "March Madness is how I heard about the school,"
admitted Bates. "I got in contact with them, and it went from there."
17-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Amanda Atanasson Tigers Up
After taking her fourth official visit, Amanda Atanasson knew where
she wanted to go to college. Or, she might say, "geaux." Atanasson,
a 5-Star player from the Mid-Atlantic Section, committed to Louisiana
State. She selected the Tigers over a host of universities from
various areas - none too close to her home in Owings Mills, Md.
16-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Primer on NCAA Eligibility
The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies the academic and amateur
credentials of all students who want to play sports at an NCAA
Division I or II institution as freshmen. In order to practice, play
and receive an athletics scholarship, students need to meet certain
academic benchmarks and amateurism requirements. Learn about the NCAA
Eligibility Center and its resources...
16-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Wolverines Snag Schalet
Myles Schalet has decided to leave the East Coast for the Midwest,
choosing to play for the Bruce Berque and the Michigan Wolverines in
the fall of 2015.
16-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Mira Ruder-Hook Goes Wolverine Blue
Mira Ruder-Hook has a slight difference in opinion to the popular
quote "winning isn't everything. It's the only thing." "Wins are more
fun," said the senior from Denver, Colorado. "But it's the losses that
have motivated me." That attitude propelled Ruder-Hook to more wins
and a lofty ranking - and opened up many college options for the Blue
Chip senior. Today, the Blue Chip senior announces her college
decision - and it involves Blue.
15-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Henry Adams to Abilene Christian
Four-star recruit Henry Adams of the San Antonio area has been a
winner at each of the Texas high schools he attended. He played for
New Braunfels High School when they won the Class 4A state team
championship, and he was on the third-place team at Alamo Heights when
he captured the individual doubles title with John King. Adams
leveraged his record into a National Letter of Intent with Abilene
Christian University in Texas.
15-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: How is College Tennis Different?
Junior tennis and college tennis are two very different experiences.
Junior tennis players know that they will be competing in a team
environment, but they can't really know what else to expect. We put
the question to recent graduates: What was an aspect of college tennis
that most surprised you coming out of juniors? What did you find most
challenging?
15-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: National Recruiting Roundup
Signing Day Eve kicks off with our national roundup. Take a look
at comments from boys and girls who have made verbal commitments
to colleges all across the country.
14-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Gaels Bring in Banner Class
Emma Critser and Kareena Manji formed a successful tandem when they
won a National Open Girls 18 doubles title together last summer. The
two five-star recruits will be extending their partnership a bit
longer as both have signed to play at St. Mary's College in Moraga,
Calif.
14-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Scholarships - Details Matter
If you've been playing junior tournaments for years, the chances are
that the subject of college scholarships has come up often in your
house. It's only natural that you would like all your hard work to be
rewarded. For parents, a scholarship is often seen as the light at the
end of the tunnel - the financial gift for spending years paying for
lessons, entry fees and travel. Unfortunately, it's not that simple.
14-Apr-2014
Spring Signing Week '14: Signing Week Arrives
The Tennis Recruiting Network kicks off its coverage of Spring
Signing Week '14 with a look at the Top 100. We preview our
weekly coverage, and we update you on the status of all the
top 100 boys and girls who were uncommitted when we checked in
with them in March. A few of these kids plan to announce their
decisions this week.
12-Apr-2014
Countdown: Kaylin Kruseman to St. Mary's
When it came to deciding on where to play college tennis, the decision
was easy for Four Star recruit Kaylin Kruseman, who will attend
Division II St. Mary's University in San Antonio next fall.
11-Apr-2014
Nakagawa, Bellis Claim ITF Grade 1 International Spring Championship Titles
Naoki Nakagawa of Japan and CiCi Bellis of the United States took
alternate routes to the final, yet both finished with titles last week
at the ITF Grade 1 International Spring Championships at the StubHub
Center in Carson, California.
10-Apr-2014
Countdown: Huskies add Homegrown Blue Chip Stewart
Mitch Stewart, a blue-chip recruit from Federal Way, Wash., and owner
of five USTA balls, is legendary for his patience, speed, and mental
toughness. Those qualities, along with his endurance and thirst for
competition, will be tested in the Fall of 2014, when he officially
joins Head Coach Matt Anger's University of Washington Huskies. He
signed his National Letter of Intent in November 2013.
9-Apr-2014
Countdown: What Do Players Overlook?
Every year, high school tennis players make their college decisions
based on a number of factors - from coaching staff and players on the
team to size of school and weather. But are these athletes making
rational decisions? We put the question to college coaches: What
important factors in the college recruiting process do student
athletes often overlook?
8-Apr-2014
Countdown: Alice Li to Johns Hopkins
Alice Li began playing tennis in Tianjin, China, at age 8, but she
eventually discovered she was expected to put all her efforts into
either school or tennis - doing both was discouraged. Three years ago,
Li came to America to train, and things have worked out well. Now a
3-star recruit, Li recently committed to play college tennis at Johns
Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., this coming fall.
7-Apr-2014
Countdown: Your College Choice is a Forty-Year Decision
During these final months before graduation, many of you are anxiously
awaiting admissions decisions and pouring through notes from each
visit, looking to make a final college choice. Thinking beyond
college graduation may seem ludicrous right now, but you should always
be mindful about how current decisions shape your future. It is
important to decide what you want to do with your time in college and
how it pertains to your career.
4-Apr-2014
March Aces
From Kazakhstan to Columbus, last month's achievements knew no
boundaries, with teenagers capturing titles, and current and former
college players moving up in the ATP rankings. A new NCAA record also
made March a month to remember.
3-Apr-2014
Countdown: Sandberg Moves East to Ivy League
When Aaron Sandberg began his college search early on in his junior
year, he set his sights high on a collegiate team. He looked at Ivy
League schools and other prestigious institutions. With a second look
at what Brown had to offer, the Hudson, Ohio, 5-Star Recruit knew he
had found the college for him. After an official visit, Sandberg
decided to commit to the Brown University Bears team this fall.
2-Apr-2014
Countdown: How to Make a Strong College Recruiting Video
Julie and Danny Thiets founded High-Tech Tennis in 2006 recording junior
tennis match play, and they quickly got involved with making college
recruiting videos. In this article, they share some of the lessons
they have learned over the years about making effective videos.
1-Apr-2014
TennisRecruiting.net Branches Out, Adds Wiffle Ball
Since its launch in 2005, the Tennis Recruiting Network has been a
valued source of information for the junior tennis community. Today,
April 1, 2014, Tennis Recruiting is excited to unveil its plans for
the future. Having established its position in the tennis market, the
company plans to begin coverage of an additional sport. And after much
deliberation, that sport is Wiffle Ball.
31-Mar-2014
Countdown: Previewing the Top 100 Boys
Last Monday, we visited with the girls. Today, the top boys in the
senior class talk college recruiting. Find out where the Top 100
boys are leaning, and see who your favorite school is after...
28-Mar-2014
Two-Sport Star Aney Chooses Tennis and Tar Heels
Leading Minnesota's high school hockey league in scoring is no small
achievement, but 2014 scoring champion Jessie Aney will be hanging up
her skates in 2015 and heading south to join the North Carolina Tar
Heels tennis program.
27-Mar-2014
Countdown: Katelyn Jackson Signs With Texas Tech
Katelyn Jackson a Five-star recruit from Roland, Ark., will add to the
luster of the Texas Tech University women's tennis team next fall on
the Lubbock campus. Katelyn, the top-ranked player in Arkansas,
signed the National Letter of Intent with Lady Raiders head coach Todd
Petty in November.
26-Mar-2014
Countdown: Eric Tseng to UCSD
Eric Tseng had realistic expectations for his future when it came to
tennis. The Irvine resident knew the sport could only take him so
far. But he also knew it would be far enough to make a huge impact on
his life. "But I wanted to use tennis to get into a good academic
college that I might not be able to get into otherwise," said Tseng.
The four-star recruit accomplished his goal - signing to play at UC
San Diego during the early signing period last November.
25-Mar-2014
Countdown: Transitioning to College Tennis
Over the winter break, Donovan Tennis Strategies was able to catch up
with three freshmen college tennis players - from the Patriot League,
Ivy League, and SCIAC. We asked them about the transition to college
both academically and athletically, how their expectations of college
tennis are being met, and what advice they would already be able to
provide to future recruits.
24-Mar-2014
Countdown: Previewing the Top 100 Girls
The Countdown to Signing Day continues with a look at the Top 100
girls in the senior class. The vast majority of these athletes
have already made written or verbal commitments, but college
coaches are still after these highly-regarded young women. Find
out which girls are still open, which have narrowed their lists, and
which have made commitments...
23-Mar-2014
2014 Icy Hot Gallery
Just a couple of weeks ago, players from throughout the Southeast
flocked to the Icy Hot Southern Level 2 Championships in Norcross,
Georgia. Tennis Recruiting photographers were onhand to capture
images from the event...
21-Mar-2014
First USTA Team Champions Crowned in Mobile
128 boys and 128 girls arrived for competition last week in Mobile,
Alabama, and each left with seven new friends - their teammates - when
the USTA's first Spring Team Championships were complete. Two 12s, two
14s, two 16s and two 18s division players were placed on each of the
32 teams. The teams had fun but competed fiercely - since a USTA gold
ball served as the ultimate prize.
20-Mar-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - March '14
Today we announce the March edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
19-Mar-2014
Countdown: Dunn Decides on the Tide
Blue Chip senior Bennett Dunn committed to Alabama over a year ago,
all without attending a single official visit. Dunn saw all she needed
to see on a 2012 road trip with her mother, Pam.
18-Mar-2014
Countdown: Lamar Remy Commits to Wisconsin
For Lamar Remy, it's time for a cool change. After spending about
five years training and occasionally basking in the warmth of
Bradenton, Fla., the 3-Star prospect has elected to play tennis for
the University of Wisconsin.
17-Mar-2014
Countdown to Signing Day
Don't look now, but we are less than a month away from the beginning
of the Spring Signing Period. April 16th is the first day in 2014 when
high school seniors will be able to sign their National Letters of
Intent - making formal commitments to college tennis programs. As
always, TennisRecruiting.net brings you a courtside seat to all the
action. Take a look as we preview our special coverage... in the
Countdown to Signing Day!
14-Mar-2014
Dealing with Injury and Rehabilitation
One of the unsung heroes of any tennis facility is the rehabilitation
center. I actually witness athletes come in and in a matter of time,
they are back on the playing field. There are two individuals that I
have closely associated myself. Read the next part of my article and
ask yourself what you would have done if you were either Tommy Haas or
Christian Harrison.
13-Mar-2014
Catching Up with Christi Turdo on College Tennis and the Invention of Hop-a-Razzi
Christi Turdo has been involved in tennis for over 30 years, from
playing in the juniors, college and pros, to teaching young players.
It was in the latter role that she also invented Hop-a-Razzi, a
revolutionary basket that modernizes ball retrieval. From her office
just outside Chicago, Turdo had a lot to say about choosing the right
college, what she learned from the playing experience, and how
Hop-a-Razzi came to be.
11-Mar-2014
Conversation with UNLV's Owen Hambrook
UNLV's Owen Hambrook is now in his eleventh season as head coach of
the Runnin' Rebels men's tennis program. Hambrook, who led the program
to its first-ever Mountain West championship, took the 2012-13 squad
to a 17-7 overall record and a final ranking of No. 62. NBC's Harry
Cicma caught up with Hambrook to talk tennis, Las Vegas, and
recruiting.
10-Mar-2014
Blue Chip Junior Katharine Fahey Commits
Blue Chip junior Katharine Fahey says that her favorite junior tennis
experience was playing in the Junior Fed Cup in California last
summer. She truly enjoyed the camaraderie of being on a team. Finding
that camaraderie won't be a problem in her future - she is ready to
announce her early college choice for Fall 2015.
7-Mar-2014
Roundtable: Is College Tennis Thriving or Struggling?
It is interesting to look at the state of college tennis. Rising costs
in education and athletics present challenges, but tennis remains one
of the most popular sports on the college landscape. We put the
question to college coaches... Is college tennis thriving or
struggling? What changes or improvements are you monitoring?
6-Mar-2014
NCAA Will Allow Use of Snapchat
The landscape of social media is continuously changing, and it seems
as though a new form of social media catches on every few months. The
popular Snapchat app - which allows users to send photos and video to
a controlled list of recipients - has just gotten a serious look from the
NCAA. Our friends at NCSA take a look at the NCAA position...
4-Mar-2014
February Aces
February may be short, but it had more than enough days for a
baker's dozen of outstanding performances in junior, college and
professional tournaments from Delray Beach, Florida to Casablanca,
Morocco to Happy Valley, Australia and beyond.
28-Feb-2014
What to Know about the Tennis Recruiting Process
College recruiting is something that seems obvious enough, but many
junior tennis players and their parents don't know where to start.
Our friends at NCSA have a primer with some basic facts and numbers
about the process.
26-Feb-2014
Notre Dame Dominates Ball State in College Match Day Contest
Only hours after a grueling and emotional home loss to top-ranked Ohio
State Saturday afternoon, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish returned to
the Eck Tennis Pavilion courts to sweep Ball State in a nationally
streamed USTA College Match Day contest Saturday evening, rebounding
quickly from the disappointing loss to the Buckeyes.
24-Feb-2014
Jess Jones Commits to Being a Volunteer
Top-20 national recruit Jess Jones let out a sigh of relief once the
recruiting process was over. But the 6'1" Blue Chip from Warner
Robins, Ga., was excited that he had made the right choice. Jones
recently made his commitment to Coach Sam Winterbotham and the
University of Tennessee Volunteers.
21-Feb-2014
ITA Format Experiment Comments: Part Two
In part one of my discussion with college coaches, there was little
support for continuing the women's experiment, which featured a match
tiebreaker in lieu of a full third set. In part two below, five more
coaches provide their perspective on the ITA's format experiment, as
does Dustin Taylor, the USTA's National Coach for Collegiate Tennis,
and Mitchell Frank, the University of Virginia's No. 1 player, who is
leading the student-athlete opposition to any change of format.
19-Feb-2014
Match Tiebreaker for Third Set Not Popular with Top Division I Coaches in Charlottesville
The experimental phase for ITA Division I formats is over, concluding
with the men's and women's ITA Team Indoor Championships. The men's
experimental format, which employed no-ad, and the women's
experimental format, which used a match tiebreaker in lieu of a third
set, will now be evaluated for their effectiveness in providing an
improved fan experience and shortening match times.
17-Feb-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - February '14
Today we announce the February edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
14-Feb-2014
Duke Erases UCLA's 3-0 Lead to Earn Second ITA Women's Team Indoor Title
When the seeds were announced last week for the ITA Women's Team
Indoor Championships, Duke was a controversial No. 7, despite their
preseason ranking of 10. When the Blue Devils defeated No. 4 seed UCLA
4-3 Monday in the final, roaring back from 3-0 down, they had proven
they belong at the very top.
12-Feb-2014
Renaud Cooks Up Victories, Commits to Georgia Tech
Johnisse Renaud is a self-proclaimed "chef on the rise." Her
culinary talents take a back seat to her tennis expertise on the
courts, however she has quite the recipe for success. Renaud, 17, is
headed to Georgia Tech on a full scholarship to hopefully lead the
Yellow Jackets back to a national tennis championship.
10-Feb-2014
Conversation with South Dakota's Malcolm Gilreath
University of South Dakota coach Malcolm Gilreath is in his tenth
year at the helm of the USD women's tennis team. Gilreath is one of
the most successful coaches in Coyote history - leading the program
to 110 dual match victories. His 2012-13 team finished the season
at 16-11 and reached the semifinals of the Summit League conference
tournament. NBC's Harry Cicma talked with Gilreath about coaching
and recruiting at USD.
7-Feb-2014
Finding Your Tennis Zone
After a great match, you often hear players say "I was in the zone!"
What is the zone? Although there have been many different
definitions, the most commonly accepted definition of the zone is a
state of optimum physical and mental performance. Everything appears
to be in flow and, in the end, everything appears to be "going their
way." In practice, the zone is something that takes a lot of hard work
to achieve.
5-Feb-2014
January Aces
For fourteen junior and college tennis players, 2014 is off to an
outstanding start. Six of the seven continents - the lone exception
being Antarctica - served as hosts for the notable achievements of
January.
3-Feb-2014
Top Women's Classes - 2014 Winter Rankings
More than four hundred senior girls - including 85 of the Top 100 -
have already signed or verbally committed to college programs. With
so many commitments, our Winter Recruiting Class rankings could not be
more timely. The Tennis Recruiting Network is proud to present the
Top 25 Women's College Tennis Recruiting Classes of 2014.
31-Jan-2014
Princeton Perfect for Steffensen
She has been described as a pit bull on the court, but when she sets
foot on the Princeton campus this fall, she'll officially be a Tiger.
Blue Chip senior Katrine Steffensen is ready to use her trademark
fighting spirit to make an immediate impact on the Princeton team.
30-Jan-2014
Michigan Women Defeat Yale to Return to Team Indoor in Charlottesville
A new format and a key player's injury didn't keep the University of
Michigan women from their customary trip to Charlottesville, Virginia
in February. On Sunday, the Wolverines defeated Yale 4-0, advancing to
the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Team Indoor
Championships for the fifth consecutive year.
28-Jan-2014
Makarova Joins Blue Devils
Blue Chip senior Christina Makarova searched near and far to find a
school that was the perfect fit for her tennis and academics. In the
end, the seventeen-year-old standout decided to sign with Duke
University.
27-Jan-2014
Top Men's Classes - 2014 Winter Rankings
The senior class has been busy. More than 850 seniors in the Class of
2014 have made commitments to college tennis programs so far, with
dozens more making verbal commitments each and every week. The
decision-making will continue, but the end of January is a great time
to see where things stand. Today, the Tennis Recruiting Network
is excited to bring you its poll of the Top 25 Men's College
Tennis Recruiting Classes.
25-Jan-2014
Solfire to Sponsor Recruiting Class Rankings
Today, The Tennis Recruiting Network announces that Solfire, a
tennis apparel company that combines original artwork with advanced
technology and manufacturing techniques, will be the presenting
sponsor for the widely acknowledged College Tennis Recruiting Class
Rankings at the TennisRecruiting.net website.
24-Jan-2014
Eight Intriguing Questions for 2014
Tennis Recruiting enters its ninth year in 2014, and this January we
feature the ninth straight edition of "Intriguing Questions" from
columnist Colette Lewis. Lewis asks eight questions about junior
and college tennis that should reveal their answers over the next
twelve months.
23-Jan-2014
Prince Hot 100 List - January '14
Today we announce the January edition of the Prince Hot 100. The
Prince Hot 100 features 100 boys and 100 girls who have been playing outstanding
tennis. These players have substantially improved their rankings over
the past month.
21-Jan-2014
McClain Kessler commits to "Dream School" in Florida
When Blue Chip junior McClain Kessler looked at his options for
playing college tennis, one voice helped him make an early commitment
- his grandfather, Andrew "Pat" Driggers. With his grandfather's
advice, Kessler was excited to make an early commitment to the
University of Florida.
20-Jan-2014
College Format Changes - The Vote of 21-19
The scoring system in tennis is one of its most sacred heirlooms. When
the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) had its annual convention
and coaches meeting in December, the hottest and the most pressing
topic was the scoring system. Legendary tennis coach Chuck Kriese
reviews highlights of the discussion - with his usual commentary.
18-Jan-2014
Eight New Year's Resolutions for Student-Athletes
Many people believe in New Year's Resolutions - and that a new year
means a new start. The New Year is a good time to set goals and hold
yourself accountable to achieving those goals. Have you set your New
Year's Resolutions yet? If not, maybe this list will help.
17-Jan-2014
Flink, Zverev Seek First Junior Slam Titles in Melbourne
Last year's Australian Open junior champions Ana Konjuh and Nick
Kyrgios graduated to the women's and men's main draw this year,
leaving all 128 players in the junior championships dreaming of
following their path from first junior slam title to professional
success in the space of just 12 months.
15-Jan-2014
Blue Chip Lebedev a Fighting Irish in 2015
Alexander Lebedev impressed college coaches with his focus,
discipline, patience, skill and determination at the Boys' 16
Nationals in Kalamazoo, Mich. Among those who expressed interest in
Lebedev, who is still a high school junior, was Notre Dame. A few
months later, the blue chip junior from Island Park, New York,
verbally committed to play for the Fighting Irish in 2015.
13-Jan-2014
Previewing Inside College Tennis with Tony Minnis - Part II
A new television series - Inside College Tennis with Tony Minnis -
premieres this week, Tuesday, January 14 at 9pm EST / 6pm PST on
the Tennis Channel. And the entire tennis community should be very
excited about the new program. We got the chance to talk with host and
former LSU coach Tony Minnis about what we should expect to see...
11-Jan-2014
Premiere of Inside College Tennis With Tony Minnis Coming Tuesday
The Emmy award winning Bill Rodman Production Shoppe is partnering with
Legendary Coach Tony Minnis and The Tennis Channel to bring you Inside
College Tennis With Tony Minnis - a half-hour program dedicated to
promoting collegiate tennis.
10-Jan-2014
What Does It Take to Be No. 1?
I have known Kimberly Yee since she was seven years old. Being number
one is a reoccurring theme in her life - having won the national
championships and reaching the No. 1 ranking in the girls 12s,
14s, and 16s, often times in both singles and doubles. But from
what her coaches, friends and family say, her greatest strengths are
off the court - as a student and most importantly as a person.
8-Jan-2014
Previewing Inside College Tennis with Tony Minnis
"College tennis is one of the best-kept secrets in college sports."
So says Tony Minnis, who knows a thing or two about the sport.
Minnis, who competed at a high level collegiately as both a player and
coach, is about to pilot a new show on the Tennis Channel - Inside
College Tennis with Tony Minnis. Check out what this program has in
store...
3-Jan-2014
December Aces
Although the focus of the tennis world has now moved to Australia for
2014, it's time to wrap up December with a look back at the junior
champions from the Florida majors, as well as two Americans who earned
main draw wild cards into the Australian Open.
1-Jan-2014
Fallia and Letzt Are Women of Troy
In 2015, the Women of Troy will have two more Blue Chip tennis players
who will carry on a proud tradition. Jessica Failla of Ramona,
Calif., and Alexandra Letzt of Scottsdale, Ariz., will don the
Cardinal and Gold as new members of the USC women's tennis team. The
two girls are both juniors in high school and cannot sign the National
Letter of Intent until next year. But both future collegiate stars are
definitely headed to the City of the Angels.
