EMORY, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Women's Tennis Team will have two new players on the roster for the 2012-13 season, Head Coach Josh Parmenter announced today. The Wasps will look to improve on their past two seasons of growth and vie to earn a spot in the 2013 ODAC Tournament. This year's freshmen are Taylor Evans (Weber City, Va.) and Meredith Yeary (Knoxville, Tenn.).
"This is an exciting class," said Parmenter. "They have compiled a tremendous record of success—they know what it takes. Our program made great strides last year, so now is just the right time to bring in a class like this to build on that momentum. It truly is a great time to be a Wasp."
Taylor Evans – 5-3 - Weber City, Va. – Gate City High School
Taylor Evans joins the Emory & Henry squad from Gate City High School. She was a two-time state champion with the Blue Devils. As a junior, she was the runner-up in the state singles tournament. As a senior, she was a runner-up in the doubles state tournament, losing the title in a three-set match.
"Taylor understands what it takes to be successful—her record on the court certainly speaks to her dedication and level of effort. But what box scores don't necessarily convey—and what separates Taylor from many talented tennis players—is that she is an excellent teammate and leader. She gives her teammates what they need, whether it be support or a push in the right direction. She's a great player, and more importantly, a great person," said Parmenter.
Meredith Yeary – 5-2 - Knoxville, Tenn. - Halls High School
Meredith Yeary comes to Emory from Halls High School in Knoxville, Tenn. This past spring, Yeary advanced to the district singles semifinals as the team took the district runner-up position. As a junior, Yeary was the district champion in doubles play. The Red Devils won the Knoxville Interscholastic League and went on to be region runners-up.
"Meredith will be a great fit for our program. She couples strong ball-striking skills with a sound understanding of the game. When I watched her play last spring, she consistently made smart choices about WHAT to do and WHEN to do it. At the college level, there are always going to be great ball-strikers, but there aren't nearly as many players who understand how to play intelligent, disciplined tennis. Meredith gets it, and her results in district play bear that out," Parmenter added.
---E&H---