Nov. 25, 2002

The University of Missouri head women's tennis coach Blake Starkey announced the signing of Erica Josbena (Wallingford, PA) today. Josbena, a hard-hitting right-hander, played in the Pennsylvania State championships all four years in high school in singles and doubles. She is currently ranked No. 3 in the Middle States Section, top 100 nationally in singles, and top 20 nationally in doubles.

"Erica has a lot of class and was one of my personal top picks," Coach Starkey said. "She is talented, has a great attitude, and takes her tennis extremely seriously. There is a lot to be said about a kid who flat-out wants to play the way Erica does. She loves competition, and is clearly happy when she is on a tennis court pushing herself. We can't wait to have her here."

This past summer, Josbena played one of the busiest schedules of anyone Starkey encountered. She played in her sectional tournament, the National Clay Court Championships, the National Fed-Cup Team Championships, the National Hard Court Championships, the National Grass Court Championships, and the International Hard Court Championships. Josbena had solid results in every tournament she played, and was undefeated in singles play for the Middles States Fed-Cup Team. She has just finished up the Pennsylvania State High School Championships, and over the winter break, she will play in either the Orange Bowl Classic in Florida or the Super Nationals in Arizona.

Aside from Missouri, Josbena also considered Penn State, South Carolina, Maryland, and Syracuse.