ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University women's tennis head coach Joey Eskridge has announced his incoming class for the 2014-15 season, which includes two Division I transfers and two players from the state of South Carolina.
The class includes Ana Baran (Brusque, Brazil / USC Upstate), Mairead Cleary (Sydney, Australia / Oral Roberts), Abigail Gregory (Simpsonville, S.C. / J.L. Mann H.S.) and Ivey Welborn (Anderson, S.C. / T.L. Hanna H.S.). Eskridge will look for production right away from the incoming class as the Trojans look to fill a starting position left by then-senior, Avery Owens.
Name: Ana Baran
Hometown: Brusque, Brazil
Previous School: USC Upstate
Baran comes to Anderson after spending last season at USC Upstate where she appeared in one match during the spring slate, which included a doubles win. During the fall season, the Brazil native advanced to the semifinals of the Terrier Fall Invitational at Wofford College. In doubles, Baron advanced to the finals of the B-2 doubles flight at the Elon Invitational.
Name: Mairead Cleary
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Previous School: Oral Roberts
Cleary closed out her freshman season at Oral Roberts splitting time between the No. 5 and No. 6 singles positions and the No. 3 doubles slot. Before coming to ORU, the Australia native was the Catholic school singles junior champion in 2008, intermediate champion in 2010 and doubles champion in 2011 and 2012 in her native country. Cleary's brother, Dylan, currently plays tennis for Alabama State and her sister, Shannon, is a member of the UMBC Tennis team.
Name: Abigail Gregory
Hometown: Simpsonville, S.C.
Previous School: J.L. Mann H.S.
Sister of current Trojan, Lindsay Gregory, Abigail Gregory was a former standout at J.L. Mann High School where led her team to a Final Four appearance in the state tournament in 2010. Gregory also posted a victory in the Class AAAA-AAA Singles Tournament in 2011.
Name: Ivey Welborn
Hometown: Anderson, S.C.
Previous School: T.L. Hanna
H.S.
Despite suffering an injury in the Class AAAA-AAA state singles tournament, Welborn led the Yellow Jackets to a Class AAAA state championship in November. Welborn was seeded No. 3 in the state tournament and was named AAAA Player of the Year. After her high school career, she was ranked in the top-10 within the Palmetto State.
