Marshall University Athletics
Herd Tennis Adds Two for 2005-06
11/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Herd Tennis Adds Two for 2005-06
11/11/2004
Kellie Schmitt |
HUNTINGTON, W.Va ? Marshall University head tennis coach John Mercer announced the signing of two players for the 2005-06 season. Kellie Schmitt (Bethel Park, Pa.) and Jess Keener (Reston, Va.) signed National Letters of Intent to suit up and join the Herd next season.
?We?re very excited to have both of them,? Mercer said. ?Having players sign on their level is a reflection of the great success of our team in the last couple of years and a lot of credit goes to those players for bringing us to this level to be able to sign players like Kelly and Jess.?
Schmitt, a 5?7, right-hander comes to the Herd from the Pittsburgh area where she has racked up several major accomplishments. Her most recent accomplishments include winning the doubles competition at the 2004 College Championships in Mt. Lebanon, Pa. Schmitt has been ranked as high as No. 1 in the Middle State section and in the top 100 nationally. She was also awarded the 2002-03 MVP for tennis from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper. Her current standing is No. 3 in the girls 18 Middle State section in singles.
Keener?s latest accomplishments include winning the Virginia AAA championship and being runner-up in the Liberty District and Northern Region tournaments. She finished her 16 and under career ranked No. 2 in the Mid-Atlantic section. Keener was also ranked No. 8 in the Mid-Atlantic Section in 18 and under and was ranked No. 142 in 18 and under nationally. She was the Female Athlete of the Year at South Lakes High School and was named to the All-Metropolitan team for the Washington Post newspaper. Keener is a member of the National Honor Society and an Athletic Honor Roll student. She also played basketball for South Lakes High School.
?Kelly and Jess both have games that are very well suited to play top Division I college tennis,? Mercer said. ?They both possess big games with big serves and heavy ground strokes and they aren?t afraid to attack the net. They are both extremely hard workers who will continue to improve and be impact players in Conference USA.?
