Tennis Star Signs With Augustana College

Jessa Richards, a senior and Eden Prairie native, has signed a letter of intent with Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD to continue her tennis career with the college for the 2012-13 season.

Richards will graduate from Minnetonka High School in the spring as a four-year starter and letterwinner. She played the No. 1 singles spot and was a team captain as a junior and senior, earning the section 2AA title. Richards also finished as a quarterfinalist in the state tournament her junior and senior years.

Richards is a four-time all-conference recipient and led her team to the section title five years in a row. In 2010 and 2011, Richards won the Redwing Invitational. She is a three-star recruit on tennisrecruiting.net, a national recruiting website. Richards is ranked 279th in the nation.

“Jessa is a talented athlete, consistently ranked among the top in the Northern Section since she was 12,” Kurtz said. “I am thrilled Jessa chose to commit to Augustana as she will make an immediate impact on the team. Jessa will make an outstanding Viking in the classroom and on the court.”

Augustana finished the 2010-11 season 21-3 and 11-0 in conference action to earn the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title. The Vikings advanced to the NCAA Championship for the second time in school history.

Augustana College is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.