April 27, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame women’s tennis program announced it has signed five-star recruit Rachel Chong, who will join the Fighting Irish in the fall of 2015.
Chong signed her National Letter of Intent on April 20 and will be the lone addition to Notre Dame’s roster in 2015-16.
The Danville, California, product has been ranked as high as No. 1 in G18 singles and doubles in USTA Northern California, and as high as No. 26 nationally by TennisRecruiting.net. Chong currently ranks 69th nationally with an IMG TennisRPI of 120.
In 2014, Chong placed third in singles and doubles at the G18 USTA Costa Mesa National Open and was a quarterfinalist at the Claremont ITF. In 2013, she claimed the single crown at Grade 4 ITF Copa Tampico in Mexico, where she was also a doubles finalist. Overall, she has claimed five G18 singles championships in USTA Northern California designated tournaments.
From 2011-12, Chong trained at Evert Tennis Academy and the Harold Solomon Tennis Institute.
“She’s got a lot of national junior experience which I think will translate well to college,” head coach Jay Louderback said. “I feel like she’s going to fit in really well on the court and off the court with the team. She’s a very dedicated student, wants to do well in school and we’re excited to have her. I think she’s going to have a chance to help us a lot in singles and doubles and she’s got the ability to get better in college. I think a lot of it is she really like to play and that’s something that fits in with all of our kids; they like to play a lot and that’s big in college.”
Louderback also noted Notre Dame’s track record in developing strong players from the Northern California section, including current Irish sophomore Mary Closs.
“It’s a really tough section and there are so many good players that any time you play a tournament, it’s a good one,” Louderback said. “I think that experience of having played a lot of very good players and coming from that section is going to really help her in college.”
For the latest on all Irish women’s tennis action, follow @NDWomensTennis on Twitter and like Notre Dame Women’s Tennis on Facebook.
Joanne Norell, Media Relations Assistant
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