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Duke Women's Tennis Adds Two In Early Signing Period
11/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Nov. 21, 2004
DURHAM, N.C.- Blue Devil Women's Tennis Head Coach Jamie Ashworth announced on Sunday the signing of two of the top junior tennis players in the nation to a national letter of intent. Both Jessi Robinson of Lewes, Del., and Melissa Mang of Metairie, La., will attend Duke University in the fall and play tennis.
"We are extremely excited to add both Melissa and Jessi to our program," said Ashworth. "Both will be tremendous assets to not only our tennis program but to the entire Duke community. They will add a lot to our team as far as depth goes and help us in taking that final step towards winning a national championship."
Robinson, who is currently ranked fifth in the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Girls' 18 rankings, attends Worcester Prep in Berlin, Md., where she hasn't lost a singles match in her three years of high school. She was selected the 2004 Daily Times and ESIAC Player of the Year, while leading Worchester to an 11-0 record. She posted very successful 2002 and 2003 seasons, while playing on the junior tennis circuit. In May of 2003, Robinson picked up the singles title at the Interscholastic-East held at the University of Kentucky. In 2003, she registered a singles title at the Gator Bowl, while also notching a doubles title at the International Hard Court Championship.
Robinson also participated on the U.S. World Junior Championships that traveled to Prostejov, Czech Republic in 2001.
"Jessi will make an immediate impact in our program as she has great hands, which allows her to control points once she gets to the net," said Ashworth. "She likes to play aggressive and is now in the stages of really learning how to use all of her weapons. Jessi is a tremendous doubles player and will no doubt contribute there in our line-up as well. I am excited about all of the tools Jessi has and I am looking forward to seeing her develop over the next few years."
Mang, listed 21st in the USTA Girls' 18s, currently attends Mount Carmel Academy in Louisiana. Over the last two years, Mang has led Mount Carmel to the 5A Louisiana State Championships and was the singles champion each of those years.
On the USTA circuit, Mang collected doubles titles in Sept. of 2003, Nov. of 2003 and July of 2004 at the Chanda Rubin American, Chanda Rubin Event and the National Open, respectively. In singles, she won the Chanda Rubin in Sept. of 2002, was a finalist at the Chanda Rubin in Sept. of 2004, semifinalist at the Peach State Classic in May of 2004 and won the SS Supercircuit in March of 2002. Back in 2002, Mang was listed as the No. 1 player in the USTA Girls 16s in both singles and doubles. She enters her senior year of high school with a 4.2 grade-point-average.
Mang comes from a very athletic family as her Fabien, played baseball in the Atlanta Braves organization, her mother, Peggy, plays golf and her sister, Amanda, is a rising senior on the Louisiana State women's tennis roster.
"Melissa will be a great addition to our program and will add to our lineup in both singles and doubles," said Ashworth. "She has one of the best kick serves in junior tennis, has the ability to play "big" by being aggressive and using her forehand to control points. Her best tennis is definitely in front of her and I am looking forward to helping her achieve everything that she wants to in the sport of tennis."
The Duke lineup in 2005-06 will feature two seniors--Lauren Archer and Jackie Carleton-- four juniors--Kristin Cargill, Parker Goyer, Tory Zawacki and Jennifer Zika-- one sophomore-- Clelia Deltour-- and two freshmen.
"As a coach, they are everything that I look for in a recruit," said Ashworth. "Both are great students, extremely talented tennis players and both have shown an excellent desire to improve themselves on and off the court. They have played some doubles together and that bond they share with each other and with the rest of our team is great to see this early."
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