June 3, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The incoming duo of Kristy Frilling and Shannon Mathews comprise the No. 3 overall recruiting class in the nation according to TennisRecruiting.net.

The Tennis Recruiting Network ranked both players among the top 10 nationally in the Class of 2008. Notre Dame garnered one of the 20 first-place votes in the winter recruiting class Top 20 rankings. Princeton took home the top honors, followed by Georgia, the Irish, Stanford and Vanderbilt.

Frilling (Sidney, Ohio) is considered a blue chip prospect by the service. She is currently rated as the No. 3 in the College Recruiting List rankings. Frilling is the top rated player from both the state of Ohio and Great Lakes region. She is ranked No. 67 in the most recent Professional Open Rankings, which are a composite of the year-end ATPWTA rankings of American players and their points earned throughout various levels of events. Frilling, who competes on the USTA pro-circuit, is ranked No. 763 in the world. He recently reached the semifinals of the U.S. Open Junior doubles tournament and also qualified for the singles draw in the Wimbledon Juniors.

Matthews (Birmingham, Mich./Cranbrook-Kingswood H.S.) is listed as a blue chip recruit by the service. She is currently rated as the No. 4 player in the latest TennisRPI rankings and No. 6 in the College Recruiting List rankings. Matthews is the top rated player from the state of Michigan and No. 2 player from the Great Lakes region. She has registered a 19-3 overall record over the last calendar year, including an impressive 7-2 mark against other blue chip and five-star rated players. Matthews recently led Cranbook-Kingswood to the Michigan State championship and captured the individual state title.

The Tennis Recruiting Network has enlisted the aid of junior tennis experts to determine the top classes. Reporters, national and international tournament directors, referees, ranking chairmen and writers from across the country have donated their time and talents to vote on these top classes. Panelists for this voting period are shown below.

Each of the panelists submitted his/her take on the Top 25 recruiting classes. Schools received 25 points for each first-place vote, 24 points for each second-place vote, on down to 1 point for each 25th-place vote. The panelists were told not to consider incoming transfer students in their voting.

The panelists for this voting period are shown below alphabetically.

  • Joseph Braden, Director of Tennis at Schwartz Tennis Center, USTA/Midwest Tournament Director.
  • Adam Carey, Director of Tennis Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, Former NCAA Division I Head Coach, Nevada Tennis Junior Competition Committee.
  • Sally Grabham, National Tournament Director, USTA Winter Nationals, Southwest Section and Central Arizona Board of Directors, Southwest Section Volunteer and Advocacy Committee.
  • Marty Hennessy, Director of Tennis at The Stirling Club, 35 year USPTA professional, National Tournament Director
  • Larry Jackson, Director, Dayton Center Courts and Tennis Academy, National Tournament Director
  • Adam Jasick, Director of Tennis-Miller Tennis Center, National Tournament Director, PTR National Tester and Clinician, USA Tennis High Performance Coaching Program Graduate
  • Ernie Katko, Director of Herrmann Tennis Academy, USTA High Performance Coach, USPTA, USPTR
  • Patty Lambropoulos, Junior Tennis Coordinator, College Park Athletic Club, National Tournament Director, Chicago District Board of Director and Endorser, Midwest Junior Competion Committee.
  • Peter Lebedevs, National Tournament Director, USTA Clay Courts
  • Colette Lewis, ZooTennis.com, USTA Hardcourts
  • Marc Lucero, Contributor to TennisRecruiting.net, Former Princeton assistant tennis coach
  • Phil Parrish, Tennis Director, The Longfellow Club, National Tournament Director, Former College Coach
  • Clayton Taylor, Tennis Director, The Atlantic Club, National Tournament Director
  • Julie Wrege, TennisInformation.com, TennisRecruiting.net, National Tournament Director, former USTA ranking chair

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