MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State women's tennis coach Ryan Kucera has announced that four student-athletes will join the Maverick women's tennis team next fall.

All signings are contingent upon admission to Minnesota State and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

A four-year starter from Rochester, Minn., Grace Ackerman earned a pair of all-conference honors as a member of the Mayo High School tennis team. As a freshman she claimed a conference championship in the #3 doubles matches as she went 19-3. As a sophomore she would claim a conference championship in No. 2 doubles matches, before garnering a pair of conference titles in No. 1 doubles matches during her junior and senior seasons. 

"We are very excited to announce the addition of Grace Ackerman to the Maverick tennis family," Kucera said. "Grace has great poise, which compliments very well her explosive serve. She is a player who can impact a tennis match both from the baseline and at the net, which has led to her becoming one of the best doubles players in the state of Minnesota. We are thrilled about her choosing Minnesota State and she has a very bright future both academically and athletically."

During her four seasons at Mayo High School, Ackerman helped her team to conference and section championships each season. She also helped her team to a third-place finish at the state tournament as a sophomore and a fourth-place finish as a junior. Grace is the daughter Michael and Lisa Ackerman and she intends to major in aviation.

A four-year letterwinner from Owatonna, Minn., Megan Johnson has earned all-conference honors four times as a member of the Owatonna High School tennis team. As a freshman, she notched 20 wins in #4 singles matches, before posting 15 wins in No. 3 singles matches as a sophomore. 

"Megan Johnson will be a proud addition to the Maverick tennis family," Kucera said. "Megan possesses a tennis game that is brimming with consistency. She is a great tactician who uses her strengths well, including a great motor and incredible stamina. These traits have made her one of the toughest outs in Minnesota throughout her high school career. We are enthused that Megan has chosen Minnesota State and look forward to seeing her academic and athletic career blossom."

During her junior and senior seasons as a team captain, Johnson moved into the #2 singles matches and posted an overall record of 23-11 during her final two seasons. She also claimed two individual Big 9 championships and two second place finishes. Johnson is the daughter of Brian and Nicole Johnson and intends to major in nursing.

A four-year starter from Rochester, Minn., Taylor Julsrud has helped the Mayo High School tennis team to four perfect 11-0 seasons and four Big 9 Conference championships. Julsrud also helped her team to four section 1AA championships, which included a third place finish in the state tournament during her sophomore season and a fourth-place finish during her junior season.

"Taylor Julsrud will be a wonderful addition to the Maverick tennis family,"Kucera said. "Taylor is a lefty who possesses a strong combination of acuity, racquet skill and maturity on the court. Those attributes, along with elite athleticism, allowed her to thrive in both singles and doubles at the top positions on one of the strongest teams in the state of Minnesota. We are very excited that she has chosen Minnesota State and look forward to see what she can do here academically and athletically."

Individually Julsrud claimed three all-conference honors during her high school career, to go along with three Big 9 doubles championships. For three seasons, she competed in #1 doubles matches and in #3 singles matches. She also competed in one season of #2 singles matches. Taylor is the daughter of Mark Julsrud and Melanie Lyden and was named to the Mayo Honor Society.

A three-sport athlete from Litchfield, Minn., Avery Stilwell competed in tennis, hockey and softball at Litchfield High School. Stilwell received all-conference honors four times as a member of the tennis team and served as a team captain during her junior and senior seasons. As a member of the No. 1 doubles team during her freshman season, Stilwell claimed a section championship and finished third at the state tournament. As a sophomore, she would once again claim a doubles section championship and finish second at the state tournament.

"We are very fortunate to be adding Avery Stilwell to the Maverick tennis family," Kucera said. "Avery is a unique talent, possessing an elite level of athleticism paired with an aggressive and confident style of tennis. These qualities, along with her tireless work ethic and fantastic attitude, allowed Avery to have an illustrious career in both singles and doubles in Minnesota. We are delighted that she has chosen Minnesota State and she has a wonderful future ahead of her as a student-athlete."

During her junior and senior seasons, Stilwell would help her team to a pair of section championships, including a third-place finish at the state tournament where she finished second on her doubles team. In singles competition, Stilwell competed in the No. 1 singles matches during her junior and senior season. She also claimed four academic all-conference honors as a member of the tennis team, to go along with two as a member of the hockey and softball teams. Avery is the daughter of Ryan and Holly Stilwell and intends to major in business administration.


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