HANA JURCOVICOVA • SENIOR
5-7 • RIGHT-HANDED • VINICNE, SLOVAKIA

The athlete: Hana begins her final season in the Blue and Gold after a superb 2008…was a First-Team All-GSAC and First-Team All-American selection as well as an NAIA All-Scholar Athlete award winner as the #1 spot player for the Lions…in 2007, received NAIA Second-Team All-American honors and was an All-GSAC performer…had an All-American freshman year…was 19-4 as VU’s top singles player and 18-7 with three different partners at the No. 1 doubles position in 2006…named the ITA’s Top NAIA Rookie Player of the Year…earned All-GSAC and NAIA All-America First-Team Honors…13th-ranked female player in the NAIA…graduated from the Secondary School of Anton Bernolak in 2005…also plays soccer and likes to run…has played tennis for 14 years…right-handed…great athlete with good size and strength…no major weaknesses…expected to be a top-five player in the NAIA in 2009 and will be team captain.

The person: Hana was born in March 13, 1986 in Bratislava, Slovakia to her parents Milan and Veronika Jurcovicova…is the middle of three daughters…is a Business Administration major at VUSC…loves to eat at "Chipotle" and sushi…sports hero is David Beckham…favorite movie is "The Notebook"…enjoys watching "Friends" on TV…loves the color blue and the number 3…roots for the Vanguard Lions…enjoys running, playing soccer, watching romantic comedies, dancing, and going out with friends…would like to own her own business and help people…tennis has taught her that hard practice brings fruits…most respects Matthias Johansson because he is a great coach and great person…says honesty is the most important characteristic for a person to have.

Her closing thoughts: I would like to be remembered as a great player and great person who left always the best on the court and gave the best to the team.

Coach Johansson’s Comments: Hana is fun, loving, and has a big heart – she will definitely be missed after this season.

BETYEL TESFA • JUNIOR
5-4 • RIGHT-HANDED • STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

The athlete: Betyel returns for her third season as a Lion…primarily played in the #2 slot last year and finished 25-1 moving her mark to 40-5 overall in her first two seasons…MVP award winner in 2008…2008 All-GSAC and NAIA First-Team All-American…named to the 2007 NAIA All-American second team as a freshman…graduated from Samgymnasiet in Stockholm, Sweden in 2004…tennis coach was Bosse Eriusson…has played tennis for 15 years…good tennis skills…right-handed…solid all-around player…good doubles player as well…experienced player who will continue to make a big impact for the Lions.

The person: Betyel was born on October 29, 1985 in Stockholm, Sweden…parents are Berhane and Yordannos…has two younger sisters who both play tennis…nickname is "Betty"…majoring in Business at VUSC…sports hero is Zlatan…likes the color blue…favorite number is eight…loves the movie "The Notebook"…watches "Friends" on television…enjoys listening to music…favorite actor is Denzel Washington…most respects her parents…learned in life to respect others, as you want to be respected…tennis has taught her to respect your opponent…career goal is to graduate from Vanguard.

Her thoughts: Betyel came to Vanguard because of the location and the opportunity to play on the women’s tennis team.

Coach Johansson’s Comments: Betty brings such a "winning or nothing" atmosphere to the team which makes the rest of the girls follow suit. She is an amazing competitor with a natural-born winning instinct.

BRITTNIE FURUVALD •  SOPHOMORE
5-5 • RIGHT-HANDED  •  LONG BEACH, CA

The athlete: Brittnie comes to VUSC after transferring from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California where she played for Head Coach Janice Maran…was part of a state doubles championship team…graduated in 2007 from Vineyard Christian High School in Anaheim, California in 2007…recently recovering from knee surgery and working hard to get back into match shape…solid doubles player…has played tennis since she was nine…solid new player for the VU women’s tennis program…should have a good career at VUSC.

The person: Brittnie was born in Huntington Beach, California on April 25, 1990 to parents Hilmar and Sandra…majoring in Communications…enjoys eating at "In-N-Out"…favorite movie is "Remember the Titans" and TV show is "Monk"…likes the color pink and the number four…favorite Bible verse is John 3:16…roots for the LA Angels…sports hero is Roger Federer…enjoys surfing, shopping and hanging with friends…most respects her dad because he’s always there for her…learned in life that it doesn’t happen the way you want it to…tennis has taught her to be patient and show self control…career goal is to be #1 at Vanguard and play in the Olympics.

Her thoughts: I selected Vanguard because it’s a Christian school and because coach asked me to!

Coach Johansson’s Comments: Brittnie is the team’s spiritual leader – very solid person with Christ in the center of her life.

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KATERYNA MALAKHOVA • SOPHOMORE
5-5 • RIGHT-HANDED • NOVA KAKHOVKA, UKRAINE

The athlete: Kateryna joins the Lions after transferring from Virginia Commonwealth University where she mainly played #3 for an NCAA Division DI team that was ranked inside the top 30…graduated from school #8 in the Ukraine in 2005…has been playing tennis since she was 11 years old…expected to compete for one of the top spots in 2009…important newcomer with a bright future with the Lions.

The person: Kateryna was born in the Ukraine to parents Dmytryi and Olga on January 26, 1988…Accounting major…likes eating seafood…favorite color is blue and number is eight…favorite movie is "Life is Beautiful"…favorite actress is Charlize Theron…says hard work and kindness are the most important characteristics for a person to have…most respects her mother for her great strong character…learned in life to be yourself in all situations…tennis has taught her how to achieve your goal and work hard…career goal is to become a successful business woman.

Her thoughts: I came to Vanguard because of [a] great coach, team and school.

Coach Johansson’s Comments: Kateryna has already one season of competition in college tennis which is huge in order to impact this year’s ladies team. I can’t wait to see "Katya" play her first season as a Lion.

ANNA VALINGSTEN • SOPHOMORE
5-9 • RIGHT-HANDED • GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN

The athlete: Anna returns for her second season at Vanguard after turning in a solid second half of her freshman campaign that helped Vanguard to last year’s national tournament…joined the Blue and Gold from Gothenburg, Sweden as a freshman…graduated from Katrinelundsgymnasiet in Gothenburg, Sweden where she played for Head Coach Theodor Strom…injuries slowed down a promising career in Sweden…right-handed…has played for 11 years…expected to make steady improvements and become another impact player as a sophomore.

The person: Anna Helena Valingsten was born in Gothenburg, Germany on May 20, 1988 to parents Po and Christina…has one older sister…major is still undecided…loves to eat at home…favorite colors are pink and black…likes the number 12…favorite movie is "The Notebook" and TV show is "Desperate Housewives"…sports hero is Zlatan…enjoys hanging out with friends and shopping…says honesty is the most important characteristic for a person to have…most respects her parents…learned in life to always follow your heart…tennis has taught her to be disciplined and organized.

Her thoughts: I came to Vanguard because I heard it was a good school and located well.

Coach Johansson’s comment: If Anna can get her consistency match after match, she will challenge anyone on this year’s team – that’s how good she really is.

MARIA FERNANDA XAVIER • SOPHOMORE
5-3 • RIGHT-HANDED •  CA'CERES, BRAZIL

The athlete: Maria arrives for her sophomore campaign after spending her freshman season at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California…was one of the best junior college players in 2008 in California with her only loss coming to her teammate and state champion…will make an immediate impact on the team…right-hander…has played tennis since she was six…big recruit for the Lions with the potential for a strong career at Vanguard.

The person: Maria was born in Brazil on January 6, 1989 to parents Fernando and Elizabete…has one sister…majoring in International Business…likes eating pasta and at "Subway"…favorite movie is "Marley and Me" and TV show is "House"…likes the color green and the number six…favorite Bible verse is John 3:16…roots for Vanguard…likes to surf…most respects her parents…says being honest is the most important characteristic for a person to have…learned in life that when you make a choice, make a right one…tennis has taught her that winning is better when done with the team…career goal is to get her degree.

Her thoughts: What I like about Vanguard is the community.

Coach Johansson’s Comments: My hope is that Maria will replace Damia Donkervoort at #4 and play at the same level as Damia did last year. I look at Maria with similar eyes as Katya.

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LYNN WALKER • FRESHMAN
5-10 • RIGHT-HANDED • TUSTIN, CA

The athlete: Lynn is in her first year at Vanguard…was a four-year #1 singles player at Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderhill, Florida…played for Head Coach Pat C…spent 2006-2008 at Santiago Canyon College in Orange, California…has been playing tennis since she was 12…beginning her first season of collegiate tennis…will add some depth and maturity to the roster.

The person: Lynn M. Walker was born in Camden, New Jersey and is the only child of John and Mary Lu Walker…majoring in Psychology…likes eating Philly Cheesesteaks and at "Ruth’s Chris"…favorite movie is "Titanic" and TV show is "Prison Break"…likes the color red and the number seven…favorite Bible verse is John 3:16…sports hero is Dara Torres…hobbies include backgammon and antiques…says honesty is the most important characteristic for a person to have…tennis has taught her about discipline…learned in life to be tenacious…studying to be a Sports Psychologist.

Her thoughts: What I like most about Vanguard is its commitment to Christian values.

Coach Johansson’s Comments: Lynn is a mature player that brings a lot of wisdom and life experience to a relative young team. I expect Lynn to be a very positive influence on the other girls on and off the court – and I believe she will improve greatly over the course of the season.