DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern women's tennis head coach Brian Nelson has announced the addition of five new players to the roster for the upcoming 2020-21 season.
 
The recruiting class includes four transfers, and one true freshman. Zulay Castaneda, Vanessa Cozamanis, Steffi McDonald, and Georgia Hosking each transfer in with collegiate experience. Vanessa Nitu joins the Savage Storm as a true freshman.
 
 Castaneda, a native of Panama City, Panama, transfers in as a junior after spending the past two seasons at ASA Miami Jr. College in Miami, Fla. There she was a part of the 2019 NJCAA National Championship team, while also earning NJCAA All-American honors during the 2019 season. She boasts a UTR rating of 9.02, as well as a high NJCAA singles ranking of No. 8 during the 2018-2019 season.
 
"Castaneda," said Nelson, "Will be counted on to make a strong presence at the top of both singles and doubles lineups at Southeastern."
 
Cozamanis, a native of Adelaide, Australia, will also be a junior after spending the past two seasons in junior college. She started her career at ASA Miami JC, then transferred to Broward College for her sophomore Season. Cozamanis carries a UTR high rating of 7.79, and was ranked as high as No. 28 in singles in Junior College during the 2018-2019 season at Broward.
 
"She will be another new player that will contribute heavily to both the singles and doubles lineups," said Nelson.
 
McDonald, hails from Horsham, Australia, and makes the move to SE from Blue Mountain College at the NAIA level. She spent her freshman season at Lindsey Wilson College before moving to BMC for sophomore season. Due to COVID 19, she did not lose a year of eligibility and will remain a sophomore. McDonald has a UTR high rating of 8.56.
 
"She is a great addition to the team,": said Nelson, "For the future and will push teammates in practice daily until gaining eligibility."
 
Hosking, a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, transitions to Southeastern from Southern Utah where she played as a freshman during the Spring 2020 semester. At SUU, Hosking primarily played No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles for the Thunderbirds. She will remain a freshman eligibility wise in 2020-2021, due to the COVID 19 waiver. She carries an 8.95 UTR rating.
 
"She will come to Durant in Spring 2021 in January," said Nelson, "And will add great depth to a women's lineup that features four other new signees added to the seven women returning from 2019-2020. Hosking is a left handed player and will be the only lefty player on the team which is a great addition."
 
Nitu rounds out the class and joins the women's team as a true freshman. She is originally from Bucharest, Romania, and has a UTR high rating of 9.39. She was very successful in her country in junior competition, placing second at the National Championships three times and earning a ranking of No. 5 in juniors.
 
"Nitu will help the Storm in the top of the singles and doubles lineup," said Nelson, "Adding great depth to the team."
 
As for the rest of the women's team, all seven women from last year's team will return for the 2020-21 season. India Shiaelis and Elizaveta Tregubova gained great experience at the top two singles positions last year, and now with some strong added depth the women's team will be much stronger.