Women's tennis team inks premier Turkish player

The Binghamton women's tennis team has received a national letter of intent from Melis Altinay (Antalya, Turkey), who is currently one of the top players in her native country. She will join the Bearcats for the 2003-04 academic year.

Since 1999, Altinay has been a member of Turkish National Team. From 1995-2002, she won her age bracket at the Antalya Tennis Championships. In addition, Altinay has been ranked as high as No. 72 by the European Tennis Association.

"I feel Melis with be an immediate impact player in the top portion of our singles line up," head coach Jamie Campbell said. "We're excited to have an international student-athlete on our team. She'll bring a lot of positive energy onto the court. She's also an exceptional student."

Altinay joins Lya Kushnirovich (Brooklyn, N.Y.) as the two women's tennis players who have sent their national letters of intent to Binghamton so far this year.

Binghamton finished the 2002-03 season with a 16-8 record and was the runner-up at the America East Conference Championship. The 16 wins set a single-season school record and Campbell was honored as the conference Coach of the Year.