Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Signs Three Future Wildcats for 2018-19
12/7/2017 12:39:00 PM | Women's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head women's tennis coach Claire Pollard has announced the signing of three individuals to National Letters of Intent. Clarissa Hand, Hannah McColgan and Vanessa Streng will join the Wildcats for the 2018-19 academic year.
"We are thrilled to introduce the next three Wildcats to join our program," Pollard said. "They are three special young ladies. To say we are excited to have them join our program is an understatement. They will be a class to be remembered."
Complete bios on the three signees follow.
Clarissa Hand
5-10
Moorestown, N.J./Laurel Springs School
High School: Rated as a five-star recruit and ranked No. 31 by TennisRecruiting.net … Reached singles round of 16 and doubles semifinals at 2017 Girls' 18 USTA National Indoor Championships … Advanced to quarterfinal at 2017 USTA National Level 2 … Won Girls' 18 doubles title at 2017 USTA National Level 3 … Won Girls' 18 singles title at 2015 USTA National Selection Tournament … Captured singles crown at 2015 South Carolina ITF … Reached singles quarterfinals and was doubles runner-up at 2015 Girls' 16 USTA National Championships … Doubles runner-up at 2015 Girls' 16 USTA National Clay Court Championships … Won doubles title at 2013 Girls' 14 USTA National Clay Court Championships.
Personal: Born Clarissa Quyen Hand on 2/2/7/00 … Daughter of Kim Hoang and Charles Hand.
Coach Pollard on Hand: "Clarissa will be an awkward opponent no one will want to play. She is a clever player with an uncanny ability to torment her opponent and use every shot and skill to disrupt their rhythm."
Hannah McColgan
5-7
Stockport, England/Cheadle Hulme School
High School: U18 British national doubles champion … Represented Great Britian in U16 Winter Cup in the Netherlands and U18 Summer Cup … Has won two ITF Junior singles titles and one doubles crown … Recipient of Dick Fontes Trophy for all-around contribution to Cheshire Tennis … Advanced to HSBC Road to Wimbledon 14 & Under Challenge at the All England Club in 2014 … Also competed in field hockey.
Personal: Born Hannah Mary Elizabeth McColgan on 1/28/00 … Daughter of Carl and Laura McColgan.
Coach Pollard on McColgan: "Hannah is a leftie with skills to drive her opponent to despair. She is thoughtful tactically and is ambitious and hungry to prove herself at the next level."
Vanessa Streng
5-7
Duluth, Ga./Northview
High School: Rated as a five-star recruit and ranked No. 40 by TennisRecruiting.net … Reached semifinals of 16s doubles in Eddie Herr in 2015 … Competed in round of 64 at USTA National Winter Championships in 2016 … 2017 finalist in Georgia Bowl UST National L3 … Participated in round of 16 at Atlanta ITF Grade 4 in 2017 … Competed in 2017 USTA G18 National Championships … Finished third in 2017 USTA National Level 2 … National Honor Society member … Honor roll student.
Personal: Born Vanessa Clary Streng on 3/17/00 … Daughter of Rene and Tonya Streng … Speaks fluent Dutch … Enjoys writing poetry.
Coach Pollard on Streng: "Vanessa is a coach's dream. She is a person of great character with the game to compliment it. Her charisma is contagious and her best tennis is definitely ahead of her."
"We are thrilled to introduce the next three Wildcats to join our program," Pollard said. "They are three special young ladies. To say we are excited to have them join our program is an understatement. They will be a class to be remembered."
Complete bios on the three signees follow.
Clarissa Hand
5-10
Moorestown, N.J./Laurel Springs School
High School: Rated as a five-star recruit and ranked No. 31 by TennisRecruiting.net … Reached singles round of 16 and doubles semifinals at 2017 Girls' 18 USTA National Indoor Championships … Advanced to quarterfinal at 2017 USTA National Level 2 … Won Girls' 18 doubles title at 2017 USTA National Level 3 … Won Girls' 18 singles title at 2015 USTA National Selection Tournament … Captured singles crown at 2015 South Carolina ITF … Reached singles quarterfinals and was doubles runner-up at 2015 Girls' 16 USTA National Championships … Doubles runner-up at 2015 Girls' 16 USTA National Clay Court Championships … Won doubles title at 2013 Girls' 14 USTA National Clay Court Championships.
Personal: Born Clarissa Quyen Hand on 2/2/7/00 … Daughter of Kim Hoang and Charles Hand.
Coach Pollard on Hand: "Clarissa will be an awkward opponent no one will want to play. She is a clever player with an uncanny ability to torment her opponent and use every shot and skill to disrupt their rhythm."
Hannah McColgan
5-7
Stockport, England/Cheadle Hulme School
High School: U18 British national doubles champion … Represented Great Britian in U16 Winter Cup in the Netherlands and U18 Summer Cup … Has won two ITF Junior singles titles and one doubles crown … Recipient of Dick Fontes Trophy for all-around contribution to Cheshire Tennis … Advanced to HSBC Road to Wimbledon 14 & Under Challenge at the All England Club in 2014 … Also competed in field hockey.
Personal: Born Hannah Mary Elizabeth McColgan on 1/28/00 … Daughter of Carl and Laura McColgan.
Coach Pollard on McColgan: "Hannah is a leftie with skills to drive her opponent to despair. She is thoughtful tactically and is ambitious and hungry to prove herself at the next level."
Vanessa Streng
5-7
Duluth, Ga./Northview
High School: Rated as a five-star recruit and ranked No. 40 by TennisRecruiting.net … Reached semifinals of 16s doubles in Eddie Herr in 2015 … Competed in round of 64 at USTA National Winter Championships in 2016 … 2017 finalist in Georgia Bowl UST National L3 … Participated in round of 16 at Atlanta ITF Grade 4 in 2017 … Competed in 2017 USTA G18 National Championships … Finished third in 2017 USTA National Level 2 … National Honor Society member … Honor roll student.
Personal: Born Vanessa Clary Streng on 3/17/00 … Daughter of Rene and Tonya Streng … Speaks fluent Dutch … Enjoys writing poetry.
Coach Pollard on Streng: "Vanessa is a coach's dream. She is a person of great character with the game to compliment it. Her charisma is contagious and her best tennis is definitely ahead of her."
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