Jan. 15, 2007

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette women's tennis team signed two highly touted student athletes to national letters of intent announced by Jody Bronson. Rachael Hush and Christina Ruiz will play for the Golden Eagles in 2007.

"This is an unbelievable recruiting class," said head coach Jody Bronson. "Both of these young ladies are very dedicated to tennis and are also great people. They will help the program immensely as well as raise the bar for the future. They will definitely impact the team next season. We look forward to having them."

Ruiz earned three varsity letters while playing high school tennis for Northville High School in Northville, Mich. She earned all-region and all-state honors each of three seasons. During her senior season in 2006, Ruiz won the Michigan State High School Division I no. 1 singles championship defeating the no. 65 player in the nation, Jessica Seyferth. She finished the year 24-1 overall. Ruiz attended the prestigious John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Baunfels, Texas her freshman year of high school. An active player on the USTA circut, Ruiz has been a finalist in the Midwest Closed in Girls 12s, 14s and 16s. As a junior she has ranked as high as no. 1 in doubles play and 10 in singles play.

"I chose Marquette because of its excellent academic program and its outstanding tennis team and coaching staff," said Ruiz.

Hush, of Wichita, Kan., was a three-time high school state champion at Independent High School in singles in 2003 and a back-to-back doubles champion in 2005 and 2006 at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School. She complied a singles record of 68-1 over three years and was an all-state tennis selection each of those three seasons. Hush was ranked as high as no. 48 nationally in Girls 16s in singles play by USTA and as high as 15th in Girls 16s in doubles play. In the Missouri Valley Section Singles rankings Hush climbed as high as second in the section in Girls 16s singles and third in the section in Girls 16s doubles.

"During my recruiting process, Marquette was the one university that really stood out for many reasons," said Hush. "As a person, Coach Bronson created my interest to know more about her and the university. As I began speaking with her, she seemed to have that special drive in her to help her players to reach their potential and highest goals. Not only that, she showed characteristics of structure and discipline, both off and on the court. When I met the team, they really seemed to gel as one instead of several individuals acting like a team. This was very important to me as I felt like part of a family."

Hush and Ruiz recently won the National Open in Maunee, Ohio, as a doubles tandem defeating the no. 2, 4, and 6 seeded teams en route to the championship.

"Christina and Rachael are not only top national recruits - they won the National Open Doubles Championship in November - and great people, but are committed to taking Marquette's program back to national prominence. They love Marquette University and what it stands for and I know they will be great ambassadors for our program and the university," added Bronson.

The 2007 spring women's tennis season gets underway Saturday, Jan. 20, when the Golden Eagles host Illinois at the Helfaer Tennis Stadium at 11 a.m.