STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton head women's tennis coach Elianne Miron has announced the addition of three international standouts to the Texan roster.
"This is a very exciting recruiting class," said Miron. "These three ladies combine to bring a wealth of experience that will add even more depth to our team. Finishing second in the WAC in regular season play last year helped put us on the map and the level of recruits that are coming in exemplifies that. I can't wait to get these girls on the court and watch them compete. It's going to be a fun year."
Deniza Marcinkevica comes to Tarleton after a strong career at Fresno State, where she competed at the top of the lineup for the Bulldogs last season.
"Deniza is a big-time recruit for us," said Miron. "She's bringing so much experience from her previous school and will be ready to compete on the national stage right away. I was highly impressed with her game during the recruiting process and look forward to watching her compete as a Texan."
She was a 2021 All-Mountain West Doubles selection last spring and was a three-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs. She was 13-3 overall in doubles last spring, including 12-2 alongside partner Dalia Ahmed in the No. 1 doubles position.
Marcinkevica won 18 singles matches in her career at Fresno State, including a career-best seven last spring beginning with 6-3, 6-2 victory over Mariia Borodii of Fresno Pacific in her first-ever battle at the No. 1 position.
"I chose Tarleton because of the competitive and supportive teammates and the healthy environment that the coaches promote," said Marcinkevica. "Their professionalism came through in every conversation and I know they will take the time to help me develop into an even stronger player. I am very excited to meet my teammates and the Tarleton staff who will support us this season. I can't wait to continue to make history as part of the Women's Tennis at Tarleton State University."
Anna Hosking • Stellenbosch, South Africa • Abilene Christian
Coming to Tarleton as a transfer from rival Abilene Christian,
Anna Hosking bolsters the Texan lineup with Division I doubles experience.
"Anna will be an exciting player to see develop," said Miron. "Coming from a Division I program, she knows how tough the competition is and I know she will work hard to compete with the best. Anna will bring a tremendous amount of energy and competitiveness to our team and I'm excited to have her in Stephenville."
Hosking, a native of Stellenbosch, South Africa, won three of four doubles matches alongside her partner Allison Stewart at the New Mexico State Invitational in the COVID-shortened spring of 2020.
During her prep career in South Africa, she was a three-time first-team tennis athlete and vice-captain.
"I chose to come to Tarleton because of the culture on the tennis team," said Hosking. "The girls and coaches are driven to compete and achieve their goals on and off the court, while also loving each other and having fun while doing it."
Natalia Komar • Inowroclaw, Poland • Sopocka Tennis Academy
A true freshman from Poland,
Natalia Komar brings a unique level of energy to the program after a stellar prep career at the Sopocka Tennis Academy.
"Natalia is a firecracker," said Miron. "Her game is explosive and she has big weapons that will allow her to play more aggressive. Throughout the entire recruiting process, Natalia has been full of energy and I can tell she is excited to play for Tarleton. I can't wait to see her on court in the purple and white."
With a slew of 25K events under her belt, Komar was the 2018 Women's Over 18 quarterfinalist and boasted a Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) of 9.52.
"The moment I spoke with Coach Miron and the rest of the girls on the team, I knew this place was special," said Komar. "I am a firm believer that it is important to follow your dreams and never give up. This is even easier to do when you have a supportive team and coaches who believe in you and I know Tarleton offers this. I can't wait to be part of this team."
Tarleton went 11-10 last year in their inaugural Division I campaign and finished second in the Western Athletic Conference regular season standings with a 5-1 league mark.
