By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin head tennis coach Caitlyn Williams has announced three transfers to the 2022-23 roster as Eleanor Chapman, Polina Khotko and Lana Brezanin have committed to the Skyhawk program.
“I am thrilled to welcome Eleanor, Polina and Lana to UT Martin,” said Williams, who enters her fourth season at the helm. “This has been a particularly large signing class after losing four graduating seniors this past May. We are fortunate to bring in these three high-quality players and students to our team – they each come with collegiate experience, which will be a huge boost for our program this upcoming season.”
These three additions join incoming freshman Ariane Souligny (Quebec, Canada) in the Skyhawk signing class.
Eleanor Chapman, Graduate, East Sussex, England (Lipscomb)
Joins the Skyhawks after four seasons at Lipscomb, where she played under head coach Jamie Aid before graduating with a degree in exercise science…Was part of a Bisons program that posted 36 victories and advanced to the ASUN Conference semifinals twice during her tenure, including the best season in program history (17-6 overall) during her freshman campaign…Competed at both the No. 5 and No. 6 singles positions while also taking part in No. 3 doubles…Three of her nine singles victories came against Ohio Valley Conference opponents while she also earned wins over individuals from Bellarmine, Florida Gulf Coast, Illinois State, Memphis, North Alabama and Western Kentucky…Went 5-2 in singles play as a senior, starting the season on a four-match winning streak…Prepped at Eastbourne College, where she played under head coach Luke Milligan…Competed in the Junior National Championships and was a two-time National County Cup Finals runner up, representing Sussex in every age group…Was ranked No. 1 in the county for several years and was ranked 12th amongst England juniors…Competed nationally on the British Women’s Tour.
Polina Khotko, Junior, Minsk, Belarus (Broward College)
Competed for head coach Marlena Hall at Broward College, a nationally top-5 ranked program before the school discontinued all sports in June 2020…Completed her collegiate academic career at Broward College, graduating this past May…Was ranked as the eighth-best doubles player and No. 19 in singles in the Oracle/ITA NJCAA national women’s rankings in April 2020…Was part of a Lady Seahawks program that ranked third in the nation during her sophomore season, ranking atop the Region 8 standings…Won over 30 tournaments during a dominant junior career as the top-ranked U16 and U18 player in Belarus…Came in at No. 7 on the Women’s National ranking and was 135th in the U16 European rankings…Was part of the Belarus national team and was also a Junior National Olympic team member in both 2017 and 2018…Visited the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2017 with the national team…Finished as either champion or runner up on 20 different occasions in U16 and U18 European tournaments…Attended Minsk Secondary School #159.
Lana Brezanin, Sophomore, Zagreb, Croatia (Louisiana)
Played for two seasons at Louisiana under head coach Stephanie Vallejos…Was part of a 2021-22 Ragin’ Cajun squad that notched its first victory in the Sun Belt Conference tournament since 2014…Took part in three matches last season, competing at No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles…Boasts an extensive international junior background as she was ranked in the top-5 in every Croatian age division as she rose through the ranks…Won a pair of U18 team national championships and was a two-time Senior Team national championship winner in Croatia…Was runner-up at the U18 Croatian national championship event in mixed doubles and was additionally a semifinalist in the U18 and Senior national championship of Croatia in doubles…Was ranked in the top-8 in singles at the U16 and U18 Croatian Nationals…Was the U14 IMG Grand Prix singles and doubles champion…Was the U16 Grand Prix singles semifinalist and doubles winner…Reached the doubles semifinals and the singles round of 16 at the U14 Eddie Herr event…Graduated from Birotehninka Gimnazija High School.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information