Colorado State University Athletics
Ram Tennis Adds Two for Next Season
5/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 1, 2006
The Colorado State women's tennis team has added two players to next season's roster. Laura Neal, a freshman from Portland, Ore., and Hilary Tyler, a transfer from Iowa, will join the team in the fall.
Tyler, a native of Grand Junction, Colo., brings two years of Big Ten experience to the Rams. She had a 40-25 doubles record. At No. 2 doubles, she and her partner had an 11-0 win streak and ended up 16-3 as a pair and was 22-10 as an individual in doubles. At Grand Junction High School, she was 3rd and 4th at the 5A State Tournament in 2002 and 2003, respectively, at No. 1 singles. Besides excelling on the court, Tyler has excelled in the classroom by being named to the Dean's List three years in college. She was named All-Academic Big Ten in 2005 and as an ITA Scholar-Athlete in 2004 and 2005. Tyler is majoring in Speech Communication with a minor in Spanish.
"Hilary comes to us with plenty of experience from playing at Iowa," said Coach Jon Messick.
"She competed well in the Big 10 and we expect she will step in and contribute significantly. She is especially competent in doubles and should fit in well with our doubles strategy."
Neal, the second Oregon State High School Champion to come to Colorado State, brings experience from the Pacific Northwest. She has been ranked in the top five of the Pacific Northwest Region in the last two years, #3 in 2004 and #4 in 2005. Neal won the Oregon 4A State Championship in 2005 as a junior and made it to the semi-finals in 2004 as a sophomore. She was named All-State in 2004 and 2005 and was the Metro League District Champion all three years: freshman, sophomore, and junior. Neal is a member of National Honor Society and will graduate as valedictorian of her class. She will major in Health and Exercise Science when she starts this fall. Emily Kirchem was the first Oregon State High School Champion to come to Colorado State.
"Laura has an aggressive all-court game and has the ability to compete at the top level of our conference," said Messick.