Two Recruits To Join NU This Winter, Next Fall

The Nebraska women's tennis team just got bigger. The squad looks forward to two new recruits suiting up for the Scarlet and Cream. One recruit, Spurti Shivalingaiah, is set to expand the roster this winter break when she joins the team in early January to compete in the spring 2014 campaign. The second recruit, Macarena Olivares, signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Big Red starting in the fall of 2014. 

A native of Bangalore, India, Shivalingaiah is a well decorated junior player expected to impact the team immediately. The talented recruit won the ITF U18 Junior World Ranking singles and doubles Championship at Colombo and was a finalist in the ITF U18 Junior World Ranking Singles Championship at Bahrain and Colombo. Shivalingaiah won the ITF U18 Junior Doubles Championship at Guwahati and Chennai while also becoming a finalist in the ITF U18 Juniors Doubles Championships in Bahrain, Jordan, Colombo, and Delhi. Shivalingaiah reached a ranking of 232 in the ITF U18 Junior World Ranking as well as ranked No. 1,110 in the International WTA Women's ranking. Shivalingaiah was honored by the Governor of Karnataka on Nov. 22, 2012, presented with a Karnataka Olympic Association Award as the "Best Sports Person - Tennis".

"We are certainly honored to have Spurti joining our Husker family this January," Head Coach Scott Jacobson said. "She is a tremendous player with a very good hard-court game. Spurti has a very aggressive baseline game and loves to attack when the opportunity presents itself. She has had tremendous success at the international level and we expect her to have an immediate and positive impact on our program this season. In addition to being a great player, Spurti’s personality will fit the team well. She is a very positive person that exudes good energy while competing. Spurti will be a role model when it comes to work ethic! Her passion for the game will be evident the first day she steps on the court as a Husker."

A native of Santiago, Chile, Olivares signed her NLI this fall in anticipation to join the Nebraska roster in the 2014-15 season. Olivares topped the U18 Rankings in Chile at No. 1 while also climbing to No. 58 in the ITF Junior World rankings. Olivares peaked at No. 578 in the WTA Women's World rankings. Olivares is an extremely talented commit that is expected to become a strong competitor for the Huskers in the next few years.

"We are very fortunate to have Macarena join our Husker family," Assistant Coach German Dalmagro said. "She is a tremendous competitor and a great athlete. She is someone that will help us right away and will compete hard every day for the team. I have known her for a few years now, and besides being an outstanding player, she is a great person with high character and integrity that will fit in very well in our team."

"We are certainly honored to have such a tremendously gifted athlete joining our Husker family next year," Head Coach Scott Jacobson said. "Macarena has already proven the ability to play with people at the highest levels. Her ITF highest junior ranking of 58 and best WTA world ranking of 578 are a testament of the ability level that Macarena brings to our program. Not only has Macarena proven to be one of the best juniors in the world, but also has had incredible success against those attempting the professional tour. Coach Dalmagro did an amazing job and played the lead role in helping us land this talented future Husker. We know with Macarena we are not only getting a tremendous tennis player, but also a person of great integrity, and character."