The Prairie View A&M women's tennis team is in the midst of preparing for the 2014 season and looks to improve upon its impressive 4-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference record and compete for the SWAC Championship as it returns key players and bolstered its depth with a strong recruiting class.
Four-Star recruit Taylor Lefridge out of Santiago High School in Corona, Calif. has already made an impact on the team, bringing a winning mentality and intensity that coach John Cochran believes can improve the culture of the program. She is joined by four other true freshmen including: Sydney Thomas, Maria Lackey, Donielle Richard and Peyton Gore.
Taylor LeFridge
Height: 5-4
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Corona, Calif.
Previous School: Santiago
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior at Santiago High School LeFridge was ranked No. 38 in Calif. and No. 127 nationally after going undefeated and claimed the Big IIIV League MVP award as well as the League Singles Championship. She earned a top seed in the CIF Tournament before being ousted in the second round. LeFridge comes into Prairie View A&M as a four star player who was recruited by Cal. Fullerton, UC Riverside, Toledo, Southern, Seton Hall and LSU before committing to Prairie View A&M.
Sydney Thomas
Height: 5-6
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Previous School: West Lake
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior Thomas turned in an undefeated singles season, distinguishing herself as the only female player in West Lake High School history to accomplish such a feat. She played all for seasons at West Lake as the No. 1 singles player and finished her final season with a Top-60 ranking in the state of Georgia…was ranked as high as No. 16 in Georgia as a senior.
Maria Lackey
Height: 5-7
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Norcross, Ga.
Previous School: Norcross
HIGH SCHOOL: Finished her season ranked as high as No. 22 in the state of Georgia out of Norcross High School. Went as a part of the No. 1 doubles team at Norcross High School that went 12-2 to start the season of her senior campaign. Played on a State-Ranked Tennis team at Norcross for as a junior and a senior.
Donielle Richard
Height: 5-6
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Cedar Hill, Texas
Previous School: Cedar Hill
HIGH SCHOOL: Was elected as the co-captain of the Cedar Hill High School tennis team as a senior. Was ranked as high as No. 51 in Texas in her class as a senior and was a four-year letterman at Cedar Hill High School.
Payton Gore
Height: 5-8
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Quartz Hill, Calif.
Previous School: Quartz Hill
HIGH SCHOOL: Gore held the No. 1 slot for Quartz Hill High School for four years as a letterman and was ranked as high as No. 111 in California as a senior. She advanced to the CIF State Tournament all four years of competition and had a combined record of 111-3 through her junior campaign. She was also selected as the team captain for the singles side of her high school team as a senior.
