Edwards, Gopinath, Tallas Sign With Women's Tennis
12/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Dec. 3, 2010
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University head women's tennis coach D.J. Gurule has announced the signing of three players to national letters of intent. The Bulldogs welcome Katie Edwards of Aloha, Ore., Hailee Gopinath of Austin, Texas and Alexandra Tallas of Chatsworth, Calif., to the squad in 2011-12.
Edwards is currently No. 18 in the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Pacific Northwest rankings and ranked No. 157 by tennisrecruiting.net. She has earned three varsity letters in tennis at Century High School in Hillsboro, Ore., helped the Jaguars win three Pacific Conference (6A-4) championships and is undefeated against conference opponents. Individually, she has placed third in the state tournament as a freshman and was a finalist as a sophomore and junior.
Edwards is the three-time Pacific Conference Most Valuable Player and a two-time first team All-Pacific Conference and All-State honoree.
"Katie is one of the best players in the Pacific Northwest and we are very fortunate to have her choose Gonzaga," Gurule said. "She comes from a great tennis family. Her dad Dave played at Southwest Texas State and is the tennis director at West Hills Tennis Club in Portland and her brother Robbie is a sophomore on the men's tennis team at the University of Northern Colorado.
"Katie has a great work ethic and will be an important addition to next year's squad. I am very happy to have someone from the Pacific Northwest of her caliber commit to GU."
Gopinath is currently ranked No. 311 nationally by tennisrecruiting.net. Although she has not played tennis while attending Blessed Hope Academy in San Antonio, Texas, Gopinath has had success competing as an independent. Most recently, she reached the semifinals of the 2010 US Open Qualifier in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The 2005 season was one of Gopinath most successful. While being ranked in the nation's top-10 by the USTA, she won the Columbus Indoor Championships, the National Open Level 2 championships in both singles and doubles, the Pacific Northwest 14's Junior Sectionals in both singles and doubles and was a member of the PNW National championship 14's Zonals team. In addition, she was a quarterfinalist in the National Clay courts Singles Level 1 and semifinalists in both the National Clay court doubles and Kentucky Derby 14's singles.
"Hailee is an outstanding tennis player and has unlimited potential," Gurule said. "She has a big game and has a lot of experience. She was at one time ranked in the top-10 in the nation and I believe that she will make an immediate impact on our team. We are very fortunate to have her as an incoming member of our team."
Ranked No. 18 in the USTA Southern California Endorsement List and No. 164 by tennisrecruiting.net, Tallas has earned four varsity letters at No. 1 singles and has served as team captain the last two years at Granada Hills High School. In addition to being spotless in West Valley Conference play at 42-0, she has helped the Highlanders clinch three CIF Los Angeles City Section championships. Individually, Tallas has won two CIF Los Angeles City Section championships in three appearances and is a four-time conference Most Valuable Player and two-time CIF Los Angeles City Section Sportsman of the Year.
"Alexandra is the definition of what it means to be a Zag," Gurule said. "She is a fierce competitor and a very talented tennis player but Alexandra's best asset is her leadership. I am most impressed with how she has led her high school team. The great thing about Alexandra is that she makes everyone around her better."
Gurule said he was very pleased with the 2011-12 class.
"This is the best recruiting class that I have had in my seven years at GU," Gurule said. "Not only are they great players but more importantly they are great students and teammates. I am very excited to have these ladies on our team and shape the future of Gonzaga women's tennis."
