April 28, 2009

PHOTOGALLERY

KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State Head Women's Tennis Coach Brandon Padgett and the KSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the signing of the program's first two recruits for the 2009-10 season, Iesha Holton and Therese Lagerkvist, to National Letters of Intent in a statement released Monday.

Holton and Lagerkvist will join the Owls after highly successful junior careers and will be looked upon to help fill the void left by graduating senior Mercedes Cobos. Holton will join the Owls after a four-year career at Coral Gables High School in Miami, Fla., while Lagerkvist, an international product, comes to Kennesaw from Koping, Sweden.

Holton is a strong player with plenty of high school and junior level playing experience. She is currently ranked No. 135 in the U.S., but has been ranked as high as No. 127. She is 44th in the Southeast and the 23rd-ranked player in her home state of Florida.

"Iesha is an excellent player who will bring a power game to the team that is much needed," said Padgett on Holton's abilities. "We expect Iesha to make an immediate impact on both the doubles and singles line-ups. Her ability to hit a big serve, combined with her height and athletic ability, will prove to be a huge asset for this team."

The 19-year-old Lagerkvist also had a strong junior career, earning nearly 30 titles while playing for Team Kramfors, her club team. She is currently ranked No. 76 in the over 18 circuit in Sweden and is the top-ranked player in the North region. Lagerkvist led Team Kramfors to a second place finish in the Sweden Junior Cup in 2008.

"We are extremely excited about Therese's arrival to the program. She is an excellent player, and will bring a level of focus in fitness training and on the court that will be much appreciated," added Padgett on Lagerkvist. "I expect Therese to contribute immediately in the line-up, and am looking for great things from her in her career at KSU."

The Owls are coming off of their best season since beginning the transition to Division I. They finished 11-9 overall and 6-3 versus the Atlantic Sun Conference, good for a fifth place showing. Holton and Lagerkvist will add depth to a squad that will have a good mix of underclassmen and juniors and should continue the Owls climb up the standings in the A-Sun.