Nov. 18, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt women’s tennis coach Geoff Macdonald announced the signing of Alison Riske to a National Letter of Intent on Tuesday. The McMurray, Pa., native is the younger sister of former Vanderbilt four-time All-American Sarah Riske. Riske will join the Commodores in the fall of 2009.
“We are thrilled that Alison has chosen to come to Vanderbilt,” head coach Geoff Macdonald said. “To say she is an impact player is an understatement. In addition to her incredible tennis, she is a great student and person as well. Alison is a top-two or three player ever to sign with Vanderbilt.”
Riske is considered one of nation’s top junior players and has been tabbed a blue-chip recruit by TennisRecruiting.net. The Peters Township standout earned the nation’s No. 1 ranking in Girls 18s earlier this year and has been considered one of the nation’s top junior players since the age of 15.
In 2007, Riske emerged to the national scene when she captured the title at the USTA National Collegiate Clay Court Championship in Pittsburgh. More impressively, Riske won the event without dropping a single set and went on to win the championship match in only 53 minutes.
By winning the Clay Court Championship, Riske earned a spot in the U.S. Open field. Later that summer, Riske won the singles title at the ITA Summer Claycourt Championship and finished second at the USTA National Hardcourts.
Riske entered the 2007 U.S. Open as a wildcard and defeated No. 30 Sirana Cirstea of Romania in the qualifying round before bowing out to former Vanderbilt All-American Julie Ditty.
