Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Signs Stellar Class of 2020
1/26/2016 10:32:00 AM | Men's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. – Three talented individuals have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Northwestern men's tennis program for the 2016-17 school year, head coach Arvid Swan announced Tuesday.
The class of 2020 includes Dominik Starý (Pilsen, Czech Republic/Gymnasium Frantiska Krizika), who is the top-ranked Czech player in his age group and has been ranked as high as No. 69 in the world. Northwestern also welcomes the 29th-ranked player in the U.S., Brenden Volk (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West), who is a national selection singles and doubles champion along with US National Championship doubles finalist and Chris Ephron (Pensacola, Fla./Pensacola Catholic), who is ranked 43rd nationally and won the 2015 Florida class 1A singles and doubles championships and has an ATP ranking in doubles of 1417. TennisRecruiting.net rates both Volk and Ephron as five-star recruits.
"I am extremely excited to have Dominik, Brenden and Chris join the program," Swan said. "I expect this recruiting class to make a significant positive impact on and off the court at Northwestern. All three players have excellent singles and doubles skills and are great competitors."
Complete bios and statements from Swan on each of the three follow.
Dominik Starý
5-10 • 172
Pilsen, Czech Republic/Gymnasium Frantiska Krizika
High School: Ranked as high as No. 69 in the world in 2015 … No. 1 ranked U18 Czech player … Made the Round of 16 at the Orange Bowl … Won Czech U18 Team Competition three times … Part of Czech U14, U16 and U18 national teams … Part of Czech national ice hockey team.
Personal: Born Dominik Starý … Son of Mitoslava Stary and Vaclav Cepelak … Finished top-three academically in his class … Chose Northwestern because of its great tennis and academic reputation … Anticipated major is undecided.
Coach Swan on Stary: "Dominik is an incredible athlete and player. He has great balance and anticipation on the court. Dominik uses his groundstrokes and service return to dominate play while being able to finish at net when given the opportunity."
Brenden Volk
5-11 • 160
Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West
High School: Ranked No. 29 in the US by tennisrecruiting.net … US National Championship doubles finalist (Kalamazoo, MI) in 2014 … Easter Bowl doubles finalist in 2014 … National selection singles and doubles champion in 2015 … Quarterfinalist at Winter Nationals in 2015 … Named to high school's High Honor Roll.
Personal: Born Brenden Andrew Volk … Son of Steven and Irina Volk … Attended same high school as NBA player Tobias Harris … Anticipated major is Economics.
Coach Swan on Volk: "Brenden is a tremendously gifted all-court player. He has major weapons and a special ability to finish at net. Brenden sees the game so well and does an incredible job of exploiting opponent weaknesses."
Chris Ephron
6-1 • 180
Pensacola, Fla./Pensacola Catholic
High School: ATP world doubles ranking of 1417 … Ranked No. 43 in the U.S. by tennisrecruiting.net … Winner of multiple national doubles titles … Won the Florida state title in singles and doubles in 2015 and made the state finals in 2014 … All-Sport Pensacola Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015 … Named to high school's Honor Roll … Member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Christopher Gene Ephron … Son of Paul and Jeanie Ephron … Uncle was a college basketball All-American … Cousin is training for Olympic water polo team … Has trained with Northwestern great Todd Martin … Anticipated major is Pre-med.
Coach Swan on Ephron: "Chris is a great ball striker and all-court player. He has a very good serve and excellent finishing skills. Chris does a very good job of controlling play throughout a match."
The class of 2020 includes Dominik Starý (Pilsen, Czech Republic/Gymnasium Frantiska Krizika), who is the top-ranked Czech player in his age group and has been ranked as high as No. 69 in the world. Northwestern also welcomes the 29th-ranked player in the U.S., Brenden Volk (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West), who is a national selection singles and doubles champion along with US National Championship doubles finalist and Chris Ephron (Pensacola, Fla./Pensacola Catholic), who is ranked 43rd nationally and won the 2015 Florida class 1A singles and doubles championships and has an ATP ranking in doubles of 1417. TennisRecruiting.net rates both Volk and Ephron as five-star recruits.
"I am extremely excited to have Dominik, Brenden and Chris join the program," Swan said. "I expect this recruiting class to make a significant positive impact on and off the court at Northwestern. All three players have excellent singles and doubles skills and are great competitors."
Complete bios and statements from Swan on each of the three follow.
Dominik Starý
5-10 • 172
Pilsen, Czech Republic/Gymnasium Frantiska Krizika
High School: Ranked as high as No. 69 in the world in 2015 … No. 1 ranked U18 Czech player … Made the Round of 16 at the Orange Bowl … Won Czech U18 Team Competition three times … Part of Czech U14, U16 and U18 national teams … Part of Czech national ice hockey team.
Personal: Born Dominik Starý … Son of Mitoslava Stary and Vaclav Cepelak … Finished top-three academically in his class … Chose Northwestern because of its great tennis and academic reputation … Anticipated major is undecided.
Coach Swan on Stary: "Dominik is an incredible athlete and player. He has great balance and anticipation on the court. Dominik uses his groundstrokes and service return to dominate play while being able to finish at net when given the opportunity."
Brenden Volk
5-11 • 160
Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West
High School: Ranked No. 29 in the US by tennisrecruiting.net … US National Championship doubles finalist (Kalamazoo, MI) in 2014 … Easter Bowl doubles finalist in 2014 … National selection singles and doubles champion in 2015 … Quarterfinalist at Winter Nationals in 2015 … Named to high school's High Honor Roll.
Personal: Born Brenden Andrew Volk … Son of Steven and Irina Volk … Attended same high school as NBA player Tobias Harris … Anticipated major is Economics.
Coach Swan on Volk: "Brenden is a tremendously gifted all-court player. He has major weapons and a special ability to finish at net. Brenden sees the game so well and does an incredible job of exploiting opponent weaknesses."
Chris Ephron
6-1 • 180
Pensacola, Fla./Pensacola Catholic
High School: ATP world doubles ranking of 1417 … Ranked No. 43 in the U.S. by tennisrecruiting.net … Winner of multiple national doubles titles … Won the Florida state title in singles and doubles in 2015 and made the state finals in 2014 … All-Sport Pensacola Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015 … Named to high school's Honor Roll … Member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Born Christopher Gene Ephron … Son of Paul and Jeanie Ephron … Uncle was a college basketball All-American … Cousin is training for Olympic water polo team … Has trained with Northwestern great Todd Martin … Anticipated major is Pre-med.
Coach Swan on Ephron: "Chris is a great ball striker and all-court player. He has a very good serve and excellent finishing skills. Chris does a very good job of controlling play throughout a match."
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