Lenoir-Rhyne University
Tennis Recruits, 2019-20
 
Men's Recruits
 
Eric Van Nunen
Year: FR, enrolling Fall 2019
Hometown/ Country: Linköping / Sweden

Best Ranking:
ITF World Junior Ranking #1193
Swedish National Ranking #32
Doubles Champion at the 2018 Namibia G5 ITF Junior Tournament
 
Coach's Comment: "Anytime you bring in a player with ITF experience it's a good day. In Eric, we a bringing in a player who has won an ITF tournament. This is a great day for the Bears. Eric has a great attitude, a strong desire to improve, and will no doubt excel in Red and Black"
 
Patrik Alvestrand
Year: FR, enrolling Fall 2019
Hometown/ Country: Linköping / Sweden

Best Ranking:
ITF World Junior Ranking #1158
Swedish National Ranking #20
Qualified and reached the singles QF at the 2018 Mauritius ITF G4. Also reached the SF of doubles in this tournament.

Coach's Comment: "Patrik will be an outstanding addition to the team. He has performed consistently at the ITF level, and is a strong all round player. He covers the court very well, is a great competitor, and most impressively he has a focused, growth mindset that will allow him to continue his development in college".
 
Alex Hyman
Year: FR, enrolling Fall 2019
Hometown/ Country: Brighton / England

Best Ranking:
Represented England in the 2018 Home Nations Tournament
2018 Sussex LTA 'Most Improved Player' award
2017 Sussex U18 County Champion
 
Coach's Comment: "Alex comes to us from one of the best sporting schools in the UK, where his development has been overseen by some of the nation's leading coaches. His character and leadership potential stood out throughout his recruiting process. Alex is a leader on and off the court for his teammates at Millfield, and understands what it means to play for a higher purpose, putting team above self, playing for his school, county (state), and his country".


Women's Recruits
 
Diana Babinets
Year: FR, enrolling SPRING 2019
Hometown/ County:  Odessa/ Ukraine

Career Highlights:
Ranked as high as #44 in the Ukrainian Junior Division
Ranked as high as #74 in the Ukrainian Adult Division
Played multiple ITF junior tournaments, and has won a National Level 1 tournament in singles and doubles in Ukraine.
 
Coach's Comment: "Diana comes to us highly recommended and should be able to make an immediate impact for us in the spring. She has smooth technique, is a good athlete, and makes a lot of balls, all attributes which lend themselves favorably to college tennis."
 

Evelin Menyhart
Year: FR, Fall 2019
Hometown/ County:  Mogyoród/ Hungary

Career Highlights:
Ranked #10 in Hungary
ITF Junior World Ranking #1879
Tennis Europe Ranking #879
Played Main Draw Doubles at the Antalya $15K Futures

Coach's Comment: "It has been a pleasure getting to know Evelin and her family during the recruiting process. Evelin is a hard worker, and definitely has her best tennis ahead of her in college. She has a wealth of international experience which will allow her to transition seamlessly into college tennis both on and off the court."


Nadja Straehle
Year: FR, Fall 2019
Hometown/ County:  Ulm/ Germany
 
Career Highlights:
Career High Junior ranking #89 in Germany

Coach's Comment: "Nadja has a big game. Her serve and forehand stand out as major weapons and I see her doing a lot of damage in this conference. She should be a contributor right away for us in singles and doubles. Her energy during the recruiting process was infectious and I look forward to helping her excel on the court and in life at Lenoir-Rhyne".
 
Natalie Lutz
Year: FR, Fall 2019
Hometown/ County:  Kings Mountain/ USA

Career Highlights:
3 Time Big South Conference Player of the Year
4 Time NCHSAA State Qualifier
2016 NCHSAA State Doubles Champion
46-1 Career High School regular season singles record
56-2 Career High School regular season doubles record

Coach's Comment: "We are excited for Natalie to follow in her family's footsteps in becoming a LR Bear. Natalie has enjoyed a standout High School career under Coach Henderson at KMHS, and is consistently towards the top of the NC State rankings. Natalie possesses at strong all round game, she is very coachable, and knows how to win; assets that will undoubtedly help her succeed in college tennis".