Head coach Jay Louderback and the Fighting Irish recently inked two blue chip prospects from the Class of 2017 to National Letters of Intent

Irish Women's Tennis Signs Pair Of Top Prospects

Nov. 19, 2012

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame women’s tennis head coach Jay Louderback recently announced the signing of two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.

Mary Closs (Menlo Park, Calif.) and Monica Robinson (Valley Center, Calif.) will each be eligible to begin play with the Fighting Irish during the fall 2013 season.

“We are very excited to have Monica and Mary join the Notre Dame Family,” Louderback said. “Both are a great fit academically and athletically, and will have the opportunity to excel on the court and in the classroom.”

Notre Dame completed its fall tournament schedule earlier this month, and is slated to open the 2013 spring season Jan. 18 against Bowling Green inside the Eck Tennis Pavilion.

For updates on the Fighting Irish, follow the program @NDWomensTennis on Twitter or visit Facebook.com/NDWomensTennis.


Mary Closs – 5-7 – Left-Handed – St. Francis – Menlo Park, Calif.

PREP AND PERSONAL: Letterwinner at St. Francis High School … ranked among the top-five players in Northern California … three-time Western Catholic Athletic League first team selection … two-time San Jose Mercury News all-league first team choice … member of the 2010 Central Coast Section Scholastic Championship team … top-50 national prospect was a finalist at the 2012 Girls 18s National Open and the 2011 Girls 16s Doubles Orange Bowl, both sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association … reached the doubles final of the Waco Junior International Tennis Federation event in September of 2011 … participated in the 2011 USTA Intersectional Team Championships in Shreveport, La. … trains at the Kim Grant Tennis Academy.

Louderback on Closs: “Mary is a lefty that is always looking to attack. She is one of the top doubles players coming out of the junior ranks.”

Monica Robinson – 5-3 – Right-Handed – Fallbrook/Oasis – Valley Center, Calif.

PREP AND PERSONAL: Tennis letterwinner at Fallbrook High School … will complete senior season at nearby Oasis High School … top-50 national competitor won the Avocado League Championship and was a California Interscholastic Federation tournament finalist as a junior … selected as Fallbrook High School’s Most Valuable Player in 2011 … reached the finals of the Avocado League Championship as a freshman … 2012 United States Tennis Association Regional Open finalist … finalist at the USTA National Open in Denver, Colo., and also earned the National Open Sportsmanship Award … 2012 Southern California Junior Sectionals Consolation winner … claimed the West Coast Bay Championship in 2011.

Louderback on Robinson: “Monica is a very fast and athletic player. She is a very good counterpuncher with the ability to be more aggressive.”

–ND–