Nov. 20, 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt women’s tennis head coach Geoff Macdonald announced that Chelsea Preeg, Heather Steinbauer and Jacqueline Wu have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Vanderbilt and play women’s tennis for the Commodores beginning in the fall of 2008.
“I’m thrilled to sign these three players,” Macdonald said. “They are future stars at Vanderbilt and great student-athletes. They were widely recruited across the country. We’re thrilled to be able to land what I think is one of the best recruiting classes in the country.”
Preeg from Naples, Fla., has been one of the top ranked junior players in the United States for the past eight years. Currently ranked sixth in the girls 18 and under division, Preeg has won numerous junior championships and has been ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation. Preeg captured the Florida State Girls 18 and under Championships when she was only 14 years old. She chose Vanderbilt over Clemson, Duke and North Carolina.
“She’s been one of the best players in the country at every age group,” Macdonald said. “She keeps getting better. She’s extremely solid. She’s very well coached. She’s a great competitor. I look for her to have a great career here.”
A native of The Woodlands, Texas, Steinbauer currently attends The Woodlands College Park High School. She is ranked No. 36 in the country according to tennisrecruiting.net and is the No. 2 ranked player in the state of Texas. Steinbauer has finished highly in several national events, including winning the girls’ 18 division at the 2007 Houston Coca-Cola SCMZ and finishing second at the 2007 USTA National Opens. She chose Vanderbilt over Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and TCU.
“She came on the national scene in the past year and has made quite a statement,” Macdonald said. “She’s a very, very gifted athlete. I look for her to develop into a superb college player.”
Wu from Holmdel, N.J., is ranked 59th in the country and is the top ranked player in her state, according to tennisrecruiting.net. She advanced to the semifinals at the 2007 International Grass Court Championships. Wu was also a member of the victorious East team at the 2006 USTA National Girls’ 18 Team Championship.
“We identified her as one of the best players in the country in singles and doubles,” Macdonald said. “Her technique is impeccable. She has a complete all-court game in that she can play the baseline and look to attack. Her game has been developed to try to reach the next level in tennis.”
