The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Women's Tennis Signs Three to NLIs
4/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB women’s tennis head coach Mark Tjia announced on Thursday that Megan Bertrands, Jana Hecking and Alexandra Shchipakina have all signed National Letters of Intent with the Blazers.
Bertrands hails from Lummen, Belguim, and is currently ranked No. 72 in women’s open rankings in Belgium.
“We are extremely happy to announce the addition of Megan to the Blazer family,” Tjia said. “She is someone who loves to compete, and our team and coaching staff is really looking forward to working with Megan in the fall.”
A native of Arnsberg, Germany, Hecking is currently ranked No. 97 in the women’s open ranking in Germany and 18th in the girls 18 and under division.
“Jana will join current Blazer Marlene Herrmann as the second German player on our team,” Tjia added. They hold almost identical rankings and results in Germany, and Marlene enjoyed a very successful first year as a Blazer playing near the top of our lineup. We are confident that Jana will be able to come in and provide immediate help to our team.”
Shchipakina will join the Blazers after two successful seasons at Lindsey Wilson College, a top NAIA school in Columbia, Ky. A native of Saint Petersburg, Russia, Shchipakina is ranked No. 12 in the nation in singles and No. 5 in doubles as she competes for the No. 2 ranked team in NAIA.
“We are excited to have Alex announce that she will be a Blazer in the fall,” Tjia said. “She will add experience, aggressiveness and toughness to our very young team next year. She has played in big matches, including clinching the final match in last year’s semifinal match at nationals to help her team advance to the NAIA National Championship match.”
As a freshman at Lindsey Wilson, Shchipakina was named Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year after posting a 16-2 singles record and a perfect 20-0 mark in doubles. She was also selected to the All-Mid-South Conference First Team.
“We are thrilled with all of the girls we have signed not only this week, but also Dominika Hrabalova, who we signed in November,” Tjia added. “All of the girls will bring with them a lot of international competitive experience as well as a passion to improve and help the team. It will be a challenge to fill the very big shoes left by this year’s seniors – Pardis Kianoush and Catherine Ragon – but they are all aware of that and are looking forward to the challenge.”
For more information on UAB women’s tennis, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WTN). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UAB_Athletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uab_athletics).
