MORGANTOWN, W.Va.(September 4, 2008) - West Virginia University Tennis
Head Coach Marc Walters announced that five student-athletes have joined
the Mountaineers this fall.
Olga Elkin (Omaha, Neb.), Milica Pantovic (Novi Sad,
Serbia) and Kathryn Haught (Hilton Head, S.C.), all have signed national
letters of intent to play for the Mountaineers, while Veronica Cardenas
(Powder Springs, Ga.) and Catherine Wickline (Orchard Park, N.Y.) are
invited walk-ons.
Elkin, a 5-foot-6 junior, joins the Mountaineers after
playing two seasons at nationally-ranked Wichita State. The right-handed
hitter is a former No. 1 ranked junior in the USTA Missouri Valley
Section 18 age group as well as a No. 1 singles and double player from
Millard North High. Elkin also won a Missouri Valley Conference Singles
Championship during the fall of 2007.
“Elkin has a lot of experience at this level as well as
great motivation to compete this year,” says Walters. “I can see her
making a solid contribution right off in helping the younger girls get
settled into their spots.”
Pantovic, a 5-foot-7 freshman, comes to WVU with a lot of experience at
the national level. A graduate of Isidora Selulic High, she has been
ranked in the Top 15 in all age levels through the 16 and under age
groups with a top five ranking in the 12 and 14 year-old groups.
“Pantovic is a great person with a strong work ethic - two
things that will make her a nice fit to this squad,” says Walters. “She
is a grinder and her fitness level is such that she will fare well when
we get outdoors and play those longer matches in the heat.”
Haught, a 5-foot-5 freshman, comes to WVU after having a
solid career at Hilton Head High where she led her team to the 2007
State Championship as a captain. She is a two-time member of the South
Carolina All-State team and a recipient of the Seahawks Award, which
goes to her high school’s top female athlete.
“Katie is a remarkable student-athlete with a passion to
wear the gold and blue,” says Walters. “She is an intense competitor and
I can see where her desire to improve and her positive attitude will rub
off on everyone around her. Physically, she will push everyone for
playing time and we are counting on her to see a lot of action this year
in singles.”
Cardenas, a 5-foot-8 freshman, comes from one of the
Atlanta area’s best junior tennis programs. She was a team captain at
Harrison High, where she received the school’s Senior Leadership award
in 2008. She also received the USTA Southern Section Achievement Award
as she finished the year in the Top 50.
“Veronica has an excellent all-around game and her
potential at this point is limited only by her physical development,”
says Walters. “Her biggest asset may be her late surge in her junior
career with her best results just now starting to come as evidence by
deep runs in the Southern Designated events the past two years.”
Wickline, a 6-foot freshman, joins the Mountaineers after a
strong career at Orchard Park High, where she led her team, as captain,
to two berths in the New York state tournament. She is also a medalist
at the state championships in the doubles event and has earned numerous
all-conference honors, including the sectional Sportsmanship Award in
2008.
“Wickline has a lot to offer with her game and athletic
ability,” says Walters. “She has good foot speed and is very agile for
her height, making her a strong presence on the doubles court and at the
net.”
The Mountaineers’ fall season will begin on Sept. 5-6, with
a trip to the Brevard Invite, in Brevard, N.C.
