Dec. 4, 2012
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Head coach Stephanie Nickitas announced Tuesday that Annika Hepp has signed a National Letter of Intent to suit up with the UCF women's tennis program in 2013-14. Hepp was born in Germany and is currently attending the IMG Pendleton High School in Bradenton, Fla.
"We are very excited to have Annika join our program," Nickitas said. "She brings a wealth of experience with her and has a very aggressive baseline game. I expect her to add a lot of depth to our line up and contribute right away."
Hepp started playing tennis at the age of six, and was a student at the Welfen-Gymnasium in Ravensburg, Germany, until the ninth grade where she trained with the German Federation. She then moved to the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida.
Holding a No. 289 national ranking in Germany, Hepp has won several tournaments in singles, and played at the No. 2 spot for a team based in Bad Saulgau, Germany, which was part of the Württemberg League. She also competed in the highest junior league in the country when she was a member of the team in Backnang.
Among her travels, Hepp reached the doubles semifinals in international tournaments in Great Britain, Dominican Republic and Trinidad & Tobago. She has begun participating in International Tennis Federation events, and holds a No. 1,331 ranking in the ITF Juniors, and won the Eddie Herr U18 mixed doubles event in 2011.
This year's Knights have already wrapped up their fall season, and will resume their schedule with the UCF Invitational Jan. 19-21.