Women's Tennis Signs Two to the 2015 Class
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
By Josh Gresh, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWTennis)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Head coach Jeff Wyshner announced today that top recruits Anna Ulyashchenko and Emma Davis have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Wake Forest and join the women's tennis program beginning in the fall of 2015.
Ulyashchenko and Davis are rated as two of the best players in their class with Ulyashchenko currently at an all-time personal best as the 25th-best recruit in the country by the Tennis Recruiting Network while Davis has been a blue chip recruit and in the top 20 every year since 2011.
"Anna and Emma represent another huge step forward for the Wake Forest Women's Tennis Program," said Wyshner. "Being able to recruit two of the absolute best players in the U.S. to our program who are a great fit both as students with Wake Forest and as hard-working, tennis-passionate and fun-loving team members just insures our continued progress towards our goals of again being a regular in that final 16 of the NCAA tournament."
Ulyashchenko, currently a five-star recruit, has been top-50 and a five star recruit every year since 2011 and after a very strong summer, she has now reached a personal best ranking of No. 25 in the national ranking and No. 2 in New York as part of the class of 2015, which puts her in position to potentially improve from a five-star to a blue chip recruit in the next rating.
The native of Brooklyn, N.Y., was born in Lvov, Ukraine. She is currently the fifth-ranked player in her class in the Ukraine. Ulyashchenko has been ranked in the top-five in 16s and 18s age groups in the Eastern Section in this year.
Davis is rated as the top-ranked player in Massachusetts, and top three in the New England section. She has been a winner of multiple USTA singles/doubles tournaments, such as sectionals, regionals and nationals since 2009.
While in high school, Davis was the 16s National Open Champion, finished sixth at 2013 Easter Bowl, and won the 2013 Easter Bowl Sportsmanship Award. A three-time Massachusetts Singles State Champion, she was voted team captain as a junior and senior. A three-time South Shore League All Star and recipient of numerous awards from the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Patriot Ledger, Davis is undefeated in three years of high school tennis and has yet to lose a set. She has led her team to three consecutive South Shore League Championships and to a Massachusetts South Sectional Team title in 2012 and 2013.
"Both Emma and Anna have great experience as players and both have shown themselves to be outstanding competitors, yet I am even more excited about their potential for developing over the next several years," Wyshner added. "They have all the ingredients needed to be truly outstanding collegiate tennis players starting with their enthusiasm, determination and work ethic. They will be great additions to what is already a great group!"
Emma Davis on Why Wake Forest: "I chose Wake Forest because it had the perfect mix of strong academics with an amazing tennis program. I was looking for a small school that would challenge me in both areas. I also fell in love with the girls on the team and the coaching staff. The girls are very welcoming and Coach Wyshner and Coach Roland are very supportive in everything the team does both on and off the court."
Anna Ulyashchenko on Why Wake Forest: "After I took my official visit to Wake Forest, I absolutely fell in love with it. Everything just was so great. Wake Forest had everything I was looking for in my dream college; great academics and tennis, a beautiful campus and very nice people. I connected with the coaches and the team right away and I just loved the atmosphere at Wake Forest. It seems like the place I would have the best college experience for the next four years!"
