Burgess Signs Six For 2021-22 Campaign

GREENVILLE, N.C. – In preparation for the East Carolina women's tennis team's return to competition in the fall, head coach Kirstin Burgess has signed six players to a National Letter of Intent, as announced on Friday.

Martina Muzzolon, Padua, Italy (I.I.S. Leon Battista Alberti)

The next member of our 2021 class comes to Greenville from Padua, Italy! Please welcome Martina Muzzolon to #PirateNation🏴‍☠️! pic.twitter.com/PHcsnz49sQ
— ECU Women's Tennis (@ecuwtennis) June 14, 2021

Won the under 16 regional championship.
Reached the final at the 2021 Plebiscito Tennis Academy open tournament in both singles and mixed doubles.
Won both the 2021 TC Villafranca open tournament and the Rodeo A.T. Verona.
Reached the 2021 finals of the rodeo TC Vicenza, the rodeo TC Osio di Sopra and rodeo TC Castellazzo.
Won the 2020 rodeo Park Tennis Villorba
Reached the 2020 final of the rodeo Canottieri Padua, the TC Pordenone open tournament and the rodeo TC Pavia.
Also played volleyball at the regional level for Montemerlo.

Coach Burgess on Martina: "Martina was my first commitment and the pillar I molded the rest of the team around. She is extremely athletic, possesses a beautiful one handed backhand and really explodes into the ball but her positivity is the part I am most looking forward to."

Ines Bachir, Casablanca, Morocco (Juan Ramon Jimenez H.S.)

To prepare for the return of ☠️🎾 this fall, we're introducing new Pirates to the team. First up, please welcome Ines Bachir to #PirateNation🏴‍☠️! pic.twitter.com/DQQjtHXtud
— ECU Women's Tennis (@ecuwtennis) June 10, 2021

Won 10 Moroccan National Tournaments, including three Grade 1 tournaments in 2020, the highest level of competition in Morocco.
Reached both the singles and the doubles final of the ITF J5 Casablanca tournament in 2019.
Won the doubles title at the Oujda-Angad Junior Open in 2018.
Competed in the African Junior Championships in 2018.

Coach Burgess on Ines: "Ines is a strong baseline player with a lot of International experience as a frequent member of the Moroccan National Team. She has had a lot of successes on the doubles court for her country and I expect that trend to continue. I will be looking to her maturity to help lead our young team this year."

Anne Lou Champion, Saint-Amand-Montrond, France (Lycee Sainte Marie)

Hailing from Saint-Amand-Montrond, France, please welcome Anne Lou Champion to #PirateNation🏴‍☠️! She will wear the Purple🟣 and Gold 🥇 starting this fall! pic.twitter.com/B4nyAK6Abf
— ECU Women's Tennis (@ecuwtennis) June 11, 2021

Recorded a 161-118 record since 2017.
Has won 31 national tournaments during her prep career.
Reached the semifinals of Tennis Europe in singles play in 2018 as well as finishing as the competition's runner-up on the doubles side.
Played in the ITF J4 Tournament in France in 2019.
Went 45-28 during her 2020 campaign.
Won multiple regional championships, reaching the U16 finals in the French championships in 2016.

Coach Burgess on Anne Lou: "Anne Lou is another aggressive baseliner that I think will take great strides in her game after a year in the weight room with Coach Jason Martinez. She has great length and timing and I think she will make an impressive impact on this program's future."

Danique Havermans, Zevenbergen, The Netherlands (Sint-Joris College Eindhoven)

We're pleased to announce that Danique Havermans will be wearing the Purple🟣 and Gold💛 starting this fall!

Welcome to #PirateNation🏴‍☠️ Danique! pic.twitter.com/VbxT7yTiDn
— ECU Women's Tennis (@ecuwtennis) June 25, 2021

Won both the singles and the doubles championships at the J5 Harare tournament in 2020.
The doubles title at the J5 Harare was the second consecutive doubles crown, with Havermans winning the same tournament the week before.
Reached the doubles final at the J4 Nonthaburi Tournament in 2019 and the final of the Flower Bulb Tournament in 2018.
Reached the quarterfinals in singles and the semifinals in doubles play at the U18 Dutch National Championships.
Became the champion of her region, Noord-Brabant

Coach Burgess on Danique: "Danique can play from anywhere. She is strong, quick, has a great serve and good hands at the net. I can't wait to see where she sits in this lineup because I think she can be successful in any position but particularly at the top."

Avery Hilbig, The Woodlands, Texas (SMU)

Our next member of this year's recruiting class already has a year of experience playing college tennis. Please welcome Avery Hilbig to #PirateNation🏴‍☠️! pic.twitter.com/o1ZSTRvWHN
— ECU Women's Tennis (@ecuwtennis) June 16, 2021

Arrives in Greenville after playing her freshman season at SMU.
Finished her rookie campaign with a 4-1 singles record, going 1-0 on court two and 3-1 on court six.
Had a 1-2 doubles record, all with partner Claudia Bartolome on court two.
Was ranked No. 65 in the nation and No. 5 in Texas by tennisrecruiting.net.
Won a doubles district and regional championship during her senior year at the Woodlands High School.
Finished her junior year as runner-up in doubles at the Texas state championship.
Represented the Highlanders in the Texas state championship in singles during her sophomore year after finishing second in regionals.

Coach Burgess on Avery: "I missed out on Avery the first time around and she ended up at SMU. I was not going to let that happen again. The lefty from Texas is a tall baseline player that had some success at SMU but was sidelined by COVID for most of the Spring semester. I know she is ready to prove herself this year."

Alisha Hussain, Hvidovre, Denmark (Keiser University)

Our final addition to #PirateNation was an NAIA All-American at Keiser last season and wears her heart on her sleeve.

Please welcome Alisha Hussain to the 🟣 and 💛 pic.twitter.com/6Eqcere7YL
— ECU Women's Tennis (@ecuwtennis) July 9, 2021

Named an NAIA First-Team All-American in both singles and doubles during her first year at Keiser as well as garnering First Team All-Sun Conference honors.
Went 11-2 in singles play in 2021, recording a 2-1 record on court two, a 7-1 mark on court three and winning a pair of matches on court four.
Went 4-0 against nationally ranked opponents, including wins in the NAIA National Tournament semifinal and championship match.
Finished the season ranked No. 8 in the NAIA by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
Went 12-3 in doubles play, all while paired with Maissane Aik on court one.

Coach Burgess on Alisha: "Alisha is perhaps our most decorated signee. She wears her heart on her sleeve and fights for every point. She had a great first semester at Keiser University and was named NAIA All-American in Singles and Doubles. With her all-court ability, I believe she will be able to reach another level here at ECU."

Along with the six newcomers, Burgess' squad will include graduate student Alisa Diercksen, who will return for her fourth season as a Pirate. Diercksen is one of just five players in East Carolina history to be nationally ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and holds a 44-24 singles mark and a 36-26 doubles ledger.

Look who's back!

One of just five players in program history to be nationally ranked by @ITA_Tennis, Alisa Diercksen is back for her senior season in the Purple🟣 and Gold💛! pic.twitter.com/SYEWSgXGUB
— ECU Women's Tennis (@ecuwtennis) June 28, 2021

"These talented Pirates will join a stalwart leader in Alisa Diercksen, who has decided to return for her fifth year," Burgess said. "I could not be more excited to see Alisa back on the court and able to finish what she started four years ago."

The Pirates will play a fall schedule consisting of tournament play before beginning dual match play in the spring season. Full details will be released in the coming weeks.

Players Mentioned

Alisa Diercksen

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