Nov. 19, 2009
ATLANTA – The nation’s top ranked junior college player, Jillian O’Neill, has signed a national letter-of-intent to play for the Georgia Tech women’s tennis team, head coach Bryan Shelton announced Thursday.
“We are so excited to bring a player of Jillian’s ability to Georgia Tech,” Shelton said. “Jillian is also an excellent student and really understands the team concept. She is a very special talent with big time potential. Jillian is a great athlete with great technique. She can hurt an opponent in multiple ways. We are looking forward to working with her and teaching her how to best use her tools.”
O’Neill, a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, is a two time JUCO ITA National Small College singles and doubles champion. A 2009 ITA All-American and NJCAA All-American, O’Neill led her Hillsborough Community College team to the 2009 FCCAA State Championship and was named the FCCAA Player of the Year.
As a junior, O’Neill won four Canadian singles titles and five in doubles during her junior career. She captured a pair of 18 and under singles and doubles crowns when she was only 16. She was a semifinalist in the Orange Bowl 16s and won the doubles title with Jade Curtis from Great Britain. O’Neil participated in the ITF Junior Grand Slam events including the Australian Open and the US Open. Her best win to date has been over Angelika Bachmann of Germany who is ranked 130. She also earned a USTA Pro Circuit Futures win in doubles with U.S. National Champion Ashley Weinhold.
O’Neill played the Rogers Cup three times and her opponents included Lucie Safarova, who is currently ranked 42nd in the world.
– RamblinWreck.com –
