Three players added to ACU women’s tennis roster
6/17/2016 12:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis
ABILENE – Abilene Christian women's tennis head coach Hutton Jones Wednesday officially announced the additions of three players to the Wildcats' 2016-17 roster. Sarah Eleanor Adams is being recruited out of New Braunfels, while Autumn Crossnoe and Elizabeth Ryan come to ACU as sophomore-year transfers.
Amarillo native Crossnoe competed for Texas Tech as a first-year player in 2015-16, and Ryan, who hails from Malibu, Calif., spent her freshman year at The Master's College but did not play collegiately and will have four years remaining of eligibility.
Adams is the youngest of six tennis-playing children, and is the sister of current Wildcat Henry Adams, who recently completed his sophomore season as a Southland Conference honorable mention and All-Academic honoree.
Adams mother Cynthia played for Oklahoma Christian University, and her father Don played for Texas Tech. Brother Henson played at both ACU and Oklahoma Christian while sister Alexandra played for Incarnate Word and Texas Tech. Sister Samantha was an All-Big 12 performer at Texas Tech and brother Harrison was an All American at Texas A&M.
A trainee at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy under coach Jimmy Brown, Adams has enjoyed consistent success in her junior tennis career and is currently the ninth-ranked player in Texas. She reached No. 2 in Texas 16s and made it into the top five in 12s and 14s.
"I sent a message to Sarah after she committed, saying 'every so often the stars align,' said Jones, "because I feel Sarah is perfect for ACU Tennis – high level tennis accompanied by even higher level of character, which is perfect for us.
"Replacing two four-year starters will be tough but Sarah is the kind of player we needed to come in and make an immediate impact. She has the tennis pedigree for sure but what I see in her is a true passion for tennis and the challenges she will encounter in that venture. I believe she will thrive in this environment and can compete at the highest levels of college tennis in a great Christian team environment."
Adams earlier this week went 4-1 at the Capsher Texas Grand Slam, falling in the quarterfinals to the state's No. 1 player, but this past winter she won the women's open singles at the San Antonio Professional Tennis Association-HEB Adult Major Zone. Overall, she has 15 USTA wins since the start of January, climbing up to a No. 100 national ranking and is 12th in the Gulf States. She as been ranked as high as No. 67 nationally on TennisRecruiting.com and has reached the doubles quarterfinals in Winter Nationals and the Round of 16 in the National Hardcourt Championships.
Adams attended Alamo Heights as a freshman and New Braunfels as a sophomore and reached the state championships each season before deciding to home-school her final two high school years. She and her brother, Henry, reached the state semifinals in mixed doubles when both were enrolled at Alamo Heights.
A 2015 graduate and ranked valedictorian of San Jacinto Christian Academy, Crossnoe posted a 6-4 mark in fall singles and won six of the final eight matches for the Red Raiders in addition to going 4-1 in doubles. She, however, did not receive the opportunity to compete in the spring despite coming to Texas Tech rated as the No. 106 prospect in the United States.
With San Jacinto Christian Academy Crossnoe won the 2013 and 2015 TAPPS 3A State Tennis Championships and was the runner-up in 2014. She additionally won three consecutive district titles from 2013-15 and she was voted the 2013 Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Tennis Athlete of the Year.
In the months leading up to her collegiate debut, Crossnoe reached the round of 32 at the Capsher Texas Grand Slam and took part in the US Open National Playoffs/Women's Sectional Qualifying and advanced to the Round of 16. In February of 2015, she played in the semifinals of the Closed USTA Regional Tournament.
Crossnoe also played outstanding at the 2015 Colorado Boulder ITA, winning the singles championship and taking second in doubles.
"Autumn is a surprise addition to our team as she decided to transfer from national power Texas Tech to be a part of the Wildcats, and we're very lucky to have a girl with a year under her belt at such a strong DI program." said Jones. "I recruited Autumn before she chose Tech … Her family has roots at ACU and I feel fortunate to have a top Texas junior player who has a good understanding of what Wildcat Tennis is about. Autumn possesses a great game and I can't wait for her to show that talent in purple and white."
As a freshman, Crossnoe reached the 16-and-under singles finals of the Champs Major Zone tournament in Wichita Falls in April of 2014, and later she was the recipient of the Nancy Jeffett Sportsmanship Award, which is given to a player who displays outstanding sportsmanship and fair play both on and off the court.
Crossnoe will be the eighth member of her extended family to attend ACU. Both of her grandmothers – Linda (Crane) Chamales and Beverly (Baker) Crossnoe – are ACU alumni, as are her aunts Melissa (Holt) Chamales and Dr. Connie (Conners) Crossnoe, and uncles Dr. Michael Chamales and Dr. Chetlen Crossnoe. Her cousin Rachel Crossnoe is an incoming freshman this fall.
A 2015 graduate of Hillcrest Christian School in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Ryan received her tennis training though her coaches in Malibu and at The Paseo Club in addition to her parents David and Debbie Ryan. Her mother played No. 2 singles for Pepperdine University, and her father once was ranked No. 1 in Southern California men's doubles and No. 3 nationally.
"Liz is a diamond in the rough who can really play," said Jones. "She is an excellent ball striker and as she gets to play in more matches this summer and fall we will definitely see her competing for a lineup spot.
"She comes from a strong tennis family and we are blessed to have Elizabeth visit here and feel the ACU difference in wanting to come from Malibu to Abilene. I'm very excited to have her at ACU."
Ryan currently holds the Women's Open No. 57 ranking in Southern California and her recent tournament victories have taken place in tennis hotbeds in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. She also reached the finals of the Calabasas Open.
Amarillo native Crossnoe competed for Texas Tech as a first-year player in 2015-16, and Ryan, who hails from Malibu, Calif., spent her freshman year at The Master's College but did not play collegiately and will have four years remaining of eligibility.
Adams is the youngest of six tennis-playing children, and is the sister of current Wildcat Henry Adams, who recently completed his sophomore season as a Southland Conference honorable mention and All-Academic honoree.
Adams mother Cynthia played for Oklahoma Christian University, and her father Don played for Texas Tech. Brother Henson played at both ACU and Oklahoma Christian while sister Alexandra played for Incarnate Word and Texas Tech. Sister Samantha was an All-Big 12 performer at Texas Tech and brother Harrison was an All American at Texas A&M.
A trainee at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy under coach Jimmy Brown, Adams has enjoyed consistent success in her junior tennis career and is currently the ninth-ranked player in Texas. She reached No. 2 in Texas 16s and made it into the top five in 12s and 14s.
"I sent a message to Sarah after she committed, saying 'every so often the stars align,' said Jones, "because I feel Sarah is perfect for ACU Tennis – high level tennis accompanied by even higher level of character, which is perfect for us.
"Replacing two four-year starters will be tough but Sarah is the kind of player we needed to come in and make an immediate impact. She has the tennis pedigree for sure but what I see in her is a true passion for tennis and the challenges she will encounter in that venture. I believe she will thrive in this environment and can compete at the highest levels of college tennis in a great Christian team environment."
Adams earlier this week went 4-1 at the Capsher Texas Grand Slam, falling in the quarterfinals to the state's No. 1 player, but this past winter she won the women's open singles at the San Antonio Professional Tennis Association-HEB Adult Major Zone. Overall, she has 15 USTA wins since the start of January, climbing up to a No. 100 national ranking and is 12th in the Gulf States. She as been ranked as high as No. 67 nationally on TennisRecruiting.com and has reached the doubles quarterfinals in Winter Nationals and the Round of 16 in the National Hardcourt Championships.
Adams attended Alamo Heights as a freshman and New Braunfels as a sophomore and reached the state championships each season before deciding to home-school her final two high school years. She and her brother, Henry, reached the state semifinals in mixed doubles when both were enrolled at Alamo Heights.
A 2015 graduate and ranked valedictorian of San Jacinto Christian Academy, Crossnoe posted a 6-4 mark in fall singles and won six of the final eight matches for the Red Raiders in addition to going 4-1 in doubles. She, however, did not receive the opportunity to compete in the spring despite coming to Texas Tech rated as the No. 106 prospect in the United States.
With San Jacinto Christian Academy Crossnoe won the 2013 and 2015 TAPPS 3A State Tennis Championships and was the runner-up in 2014. She additionally won three consecutive district titles from 2013-15 and she was voted the 2013 Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Tennis Athlete of the Year.
In the months leading up to her collegiate debut, Crossnoe reached the round of 32 at the Capsher Texas Grand Slam and took part in the US Open National Playoffs/Women's Sectional Qualifying and advanced to the Round of 16. In February of 2015, she played in the semifinals of the Closed USTA Regional Tournament.
Crossnoe also played outstanding at the 2015 Colorado Boulder ITA, winning the singles championship and taking second in doubles.
"Autumn is a surprise addition to our team as she decided to transfer from national power Texas Tech to be a part of the Wildcats, and we're very lucky to have a girl with a year under her belt at such a strong DI program." said Jones. "I recruited Autumn before she chose Tech … Her family has roots at ACU and I feel fortunate to have a top Texas junior player who has a good understanding of what Wildcat Tennis is about. Autumn possesses a great game and I can't wait for her to show that talent in purple and white."
As a freshman, Crossnoe reached the 16-and-under singles finals of the Champs Major Zone tournament in Wichita Falls in April of 2014, and later she was the recipient of the Nancy Jeffett Sportsmanship Award, which is given to a player who displays outstanding sportsmanship and fair play both on and off the court.
Crossnoe will be the eighth member of her extended family to attend ACU. Both of her grandmothers – Linda (Crane) Chamales and Beverly (Baker) Crossnoe – are ACU alumni, as are her aunts Melissa (Holt) Chamales and Dr. Connie (Conners) Crossnoe, and uncles Dr. Michael Chamales and Dr. Chetlen Crossnoe. Her cousin Rachel Crossnoe is an incoming freshman this fall.
A 2015 graduate of Hillcrest Christian School in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Ryan received her tennis training though her coaches in Malibu and at The Paseo Club in addition to her parents David and Debbie Ryan. Her mother played No. 2 singles for Pepperdine University, and her father once was ranked No. 1 in Southern California men's doubles and No. 3 nationally.
"Liz is a diamond in the rough who can really play," said Jones. "She is an excellent ball striker and as she gets to play in more matches this summer and fall we will definitely see her competing for a lineup spot.
"She comes from a strong tennis family and we are blessed to have Elizabeth visit here and feel the ACU difference in wanting to come from Malibu to Abilene. I'm very excited to have her at ACU."
Ryan currently holds the Women's Open No. 57 ranking in Southern California and her recent tournament victories have taken place in tennis hotbeds in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. She also reached the finals of the Calabasas Open.
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