Lions Have Eight Players Heading into 2010-11.
SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo head women’s tennis coach James Bryce has announced the addition of three signees for the 2010-11 season, as the trio of Laura Kemkes, Bethania Laan, and Phoebe Di Leo join the eight-person squad. The Lions are looking to reload this with the departure of seniors Shaena Keefe and Gina Schifano.
The 2009-10 version of the women’s tennis team went 8-14, including a 2-6 mark in a difficult Sunshine State Conference. Despite the record, the Lions finished the year on a high note by defeating Eckerd in the seventh-place match at the Sunshine State Conference Championships. Saint Leo looks to use the final win of the season as catapult for even greater success in the SSC this season, while igniting hopes of earning their second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four years.
Bryce feels his most recent signings will aid in that effort, as each player brings a critical skill sets to the table.
Laura Kemkes
Berlin, Germany
Ulrich-von-Hutten High School/ Zehlendorfer Wespen Club
Coach Bryce’s Thoughts: Laura is a top German recruit and a very talented tennis player. Germany is one of the leaders in developing solid prospective athletes outside of the United States. I see Laura as a top recruit for this year and it will be intriguing to see how she adapts to our team atmosphere. She is currently ranked No. 233 in German senior rankings. She will probably see a lot of playing time this year.
Bethania Laan
Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Gonzaga High School/ University of Central Florida/Dunas Club
Coach Bryce’s Thoughts: Laan is a transfer from top-10 junior college. She finished her JUCO career ranked 18th in the country individually, while her team finished eighth overall. I expect her athleticism to be her biggest asset to the team. She competes well and has two years of collegiate tennis at the highest JUCO level behind her. As a junior starting at Saint Leo, I expect her to use her experience to help lead a relatively young team. I am very excited to see her perform.
Phoebe Di Leo
Mandeville, La.
Saint Scholastica Academy/ Florida State College in Jacksonville
Coach Bryce’s Thoughts: Di Leo is a native of Bradenton, Fla. Starting as a sophomore will bring her extensive playing background to the lions. Phoebe has had a lot of time off due to injuries in the past year but with hard work on and off the court she still has the potential to become a top Division II player in the country. I am excited about working with Phoebe who has great leadership qualities.
Bryce and his newly gathered squad look to begin working together in the near future as they compete in their non-championship fall season.
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