Nov. 13, 2008

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis director of tennis operations Jonathan Zych announced today that Mia Elmore (Springfield, Ill./Springfield) has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Billikens next year.

Elmore, a sister of the Billikens' No. 1 player, sophomore Hailee Elmore, is ranked No. 13 in Illinois and No. 35 in the Great Lakes Region by TennisRecruiting.net. Last month, she posted a 6-2 record and tied for seventh place at the Illinois High School Association State Championship.

At the state tournament, Elmore registered victories against Glenbrook North's Hanna Yu, rated a 5-star recruit and the nation's No. 45 sophomore by TennisRecruiting.net, and Stagg's Melissa Kopinski, another 5-star recruit and the No. 39 sophomore. In July, Elmore was edged in three sets by University of Missouri No. 1 player Mallory Weber at an Intercollegiate Tennis Association summer-circuit event.

"Mia is an excellent all-around athlete and tennis player who will contribute immediately in singles and doubles," Zych said. "In addition to her tennis success, she has competed at a high level in softball at Springfield High School. She is a good tennis player with considerable upside.

"I saw Mia take Missouri's top singles player to three sets at the ITA Washington (Mo.) University summer-circuit tournament," Zych said. "Tying for seventh at the Illinois state tournament is impressive and shows she is capable of winning at a high level. I am excited to welcome Mia to our program, and I am confident she will accomplish great things at SLU."