Tennis Signs Two to National Letters of Intent
Nov 17 | Women's Tennis
Tess Fisher and Sydney Kaplan will join Scarlet Knights in 2018
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Nov. 17, 2017) – Rutgers tennis head coach Hilary Ritchie has signed two high school student-athletes from the Class of 2018 to National Letters of Intent.
Tess Fisher of Vineland, New Jersey and Sydney Kaplan of Montebello, New York will join the Scarlet Knights as freshmen for the 2018-19 season.
Fisher is a three-time National High School All-American, a New Jersey State Champion and the 2017 New Jersey High School Tennis Player of the Year. Sporting a singles record of 159-3, her three losses came to three different New Jersey State Champions while leading her team to a Cape Atlantic League title in 2015 and the South Jersey Group 4 crown in 2017.
"Tess has enjoyed great success, but I still believe no one has seen her full potential," Ritchie said. "The competitive level in the Big Ten is not something she has experienced. She's so athletic and has a unique competitive nature, which will set her up to succeed."
The accolades continued to roll in for Fisher, who has been named All-State First Team four times, the Vineland Press and The Press of Atlantic City Player of the Year four times and a Sports Illustrated Face in the Crowd in 2014. She was named the Grand Marshall of the Vineland Holiday Parade in 2017, and is a member of the National Honors Society.
"I chose Rutgers because I loved the campus, team and coaches," Fisher said. "It is close to home and I am happy that my family can still come and watch me play tennis."
Kaplan led Suffern High School to three consecutive conference championships from 2013-15, and was named The Rockland Journal News Player of the Year twice. As an eighth grader, she was allowed to compete for high school varsity, and went 12-0 without dropping a single set playing No. 2 singles. Over the next two seasons, Kaplan went 19-3 at the No. 1 singles spot before finishing her high school diploma at the Dwight School.
"I've had a chance to observe Sydney on several occasions, and her consistency and level-headedness on the court impressed me the most," Ritchie said. "She will add stability and reliability to our lineup."
Kaplan was a doubles state finalist in 2014 and a singles state finalist in 2015.
"I loved the school, the team, the coaches and the Big Ten atmosphere," Kaplan said.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers tennis, follow the program on Twitter (@Rutgerstennis) and Instagram (@RutgersTennis). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RutgersTennis).
Tess Fisher of Vineland, New Jersey and Sydney Kaplan of Montebello, New York will join the Scarlet Knights as freshmen for the 2018-19 season.
Fisher is a three-time National High School All-American, a New Jersey State Champion and the 2017 New Jersey High School Tennis Player of the Year. Sporting a singles record of 159-3, her three losses came to three different New Jersey State Champions while leading her team to a Cape Atlantic League title in 2015 and the South Jersey Group 4 crown in 2017.
"Tess has enjoyed great success, but I still believe no one has seen her full potential," Ritchie said. "The competitive level in the Big Ten is not something she has experienced. She's so athletic and has a unique competitive nature, which will set her up to succeed."
The accolades continued to roll in for Fisher, who has been named All-State First Team four times, the Vineland Press and The Press of Atlantic City Player of the Year four times and a Sports Illustrated Face in the Crowd in 2014. She was named the Grand Marshall of the Vineland Holiday Parade in 2017, and is a member of the National Honors Society.
"I chose Rutgers because I loved the campus, team and coaches," Fisher said. "It is close to home and I am happy that my family can still come and watch me play tennis."
Kaplan led Suffern High School to three consecutive conference championships from 2013-15, and was named The Rockland Journal News Player of the Year twice. As an eighth grader, she was allowed to compete for high school varsity, and went 12-0 without dropping a single set playing No. 2 singles. Over the next two seasons, Kaplan went 19-3 at the No. 1 singles spot before finishing her high school diploma at the Dwight School.
"I've had a chance to observe Sydney on several occasions, and her consistency and level-headedness on the court impressed me the most," Ritchie said. "She will add stability and reliability to our lineup."
Kaplan was a doubles state finalist in 2014 and a singles state finalist in 2015.
"I loved the school, the team, the coaches and the Big Ten atmosphere," Kaplan said.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers tennis, follow the program on Twitter (@Rutgerstennis) and Instagram (@RutgersTennis). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RutgersTennis).
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