Kansas Tennis Inks Two for 2014-15 Season
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Two Kansas women’s tennis recruits signed National Letters of Intent (NLI) for the 2014-15 season as announced by head coach Todd Chapman Tuesday. Madison Harrison, ranked No. 61 in the 2014 class on TennisRecruiting.net, and UC Riverside freshman transfer Jasmine Almaguer will join Chapman’s nationally-recognized incoming recruiting class.
“I think the biggest thing is experience,” said Chapman on what he was looking for. “I really like the style they both play, each can do a little bit of everything and I think the biggest thing is both of them are very hungry for the opportunity they’re going to get here at KU. They’re two more great pieces to the group we have coming in.”
Harrison, a native of Bradenton, Florida, is a four-star recruit and is pegged No. 61 on TennisRecruiting.net’s class of 2014 chart. Harrison, a product of the IMG Academy in Florida, is ranked No. 13 in Florida, No. 22 in the Southeast and is ranked No. 362 on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) list. In 2013, Harrison advanced to the quarterfinals of the South Carolina ITF and was champion of the Serendipity L7 State Warm-up. Harrison also excels in the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society.
“Madison has a lot of experience both in the USTA (United States Tennis Association) and the ITF,” said Chapman. “She trains at one of the best places in the world at the IMG Academy in Florida so she’s around good players every day. She believes in herself and there’s not anyone who will walk on her court that she will be intimidated by.”
Almaguer joins the Kansas program after playing one year at UC Riverside. The Riverside, California, native played at the No. 1 singles and doubles position for the Highlanders. To kick-off dual action, Almaguer defeated Nevada’s 109th-ranked Michelle Okhremchuk at No. 1 singles. On the season she posted a 10-14 overall mark in singles and 4-17 record in doubles. Almaguer went to UCR from John W. North High School where she was named All-League MVP all four years and reached the individual round of 16 in the CIF playoffs in 2011. In her junior year, Alamaguer aided the Huskies in a trip to the CIF finals.
“Jasmine brings experience playing No. 1 at UC Riverside this last year,” said Chapman. “Playing at the top spot is always hard, no matter the school. She looks to dictate the style of play, which I like because we play half the year inside so I think her game will definitely relate to that.”
Harrison and Almaguer join four top-100 recruits in Chapman’s 2014 recruiting class. In TennisRecruiting.net’s Top 25 Women’s Recruiting Classes for the Class of 2014, Kansas’ recruiting class received 76 votes, leaving it just one spot (six votes) below the Top 25 and 32 votes ahead of the next-highest vote-getter.
Fellow signees include five-star recruit Smith Hinton (Raleigh, N.C. / Broughton H.S.), four-star recruit Summer Collins (Atlanta, Georgia) and four-star recruit Rachel McNeely (Westminster, S.C. / West Oak H.S.). The Jayhawks will add eight to next season’s roster between walk-ons and scholarship players.
In 2013-14, KU posted an overall 12-12 record. The Jayhawks were ranked as high as No. 33 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association charts, the highest in Kansas tennis history and opened the season on an eight-match win streak, tying for the second longest in program history.
Quotables
Madison Harrison on joining the Kansas team:
“I chose to play tennis for the University of Kansas because the team is growing, and I want to contribute to them working their way up the rankings. Their team has great chemistry and the coaches work well with everyone, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Jasmine Almaguer:
“KU is the school that will make me the player I have always imagined to be. From the supportive staff to a passionate coach, there is no doubt that my tennis career will boom!”
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