ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy women's tennis head coach Keith Puryear announced his full Class of 2026, as four freshman will join the Midshipmen for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
 
Ranked as the No. 24 incoming class among mid-major programs according to the TennisRecruiting.net website, each newcomer was rated among the Top-200 prospects for the 2022 recruiting cycle, as Sia Chaudry, Ellie Choate, Christina Danford and Hanna Elks Smith are set to compete this year alongside the nine returning Mids.
 
"We welcome all four into the fold of Navy Women's Tennis," said Puryear. "They have all worked hard to get here and we see bright futures in store for each of them."
 
Navy enters the 2022-23 season coming off a 22-6 campaign in 2021-22, recording a 4-1 mark in the Patriot League and reaching the league semifinals. The Mids open the fall slate on Sept. 9 with the Bill & Sandra Moore Invitational.
 
Sia Chaudry | 5-3 | Midlothian, Va. | Clover Hill
Attended Clover Hill High School, playing on the tennis team for two seasons in the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles spots … Regional singles runner-up as a junior … Took home the regional championship in singles play as a senior, going on to be a state finalist … Rated a five-star recruit by TennisRecruiting.net, ranked as the No. 1 recruit in Virginia for the class of 2022 … Among the Top-50 in the nation for USTA's 18-and-under rankings … Member of Clover Hill's National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Senior Council, Spanish Club and National Art Honor Society … Daughter of Ramesh and Gaun Chaudry.
 
Puryear on Chaudry: "She had a very decorated junior career, as she was consistently one of the top players in the Mid-Atlantic section.  With continued hard work, we feel she has the tools to be a great collegiate competitor."
 
Ellie Choate | 5-2 | Edwardsville, Ill. | St. Joseph's Academy (Mo.)
Attended St. Joseph's Academy in St. Louis, Mo., playing on the tennis team for four years … Was part of the No. 1 doubles pairing all four years, while rotating between the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots … Helped St. Joseph's take home the team state championship as a sophomore and senior, with the team placing third at states her freshman year … Was part of the state champion doubles pairing as a freshman, sophomore and junior … Finished as a state finalist in doubles play during her senior season … Earned First Team All-Metro in each of her four years at St. Joseph's … Served as team captain during senior year … Ranked a four-star recruit by TennisRecruiting.net … Member of her high school's National Honor Society, National History Honor Society, National English Honor Society and National Chinese Honor Society … Daughter of Jeff and Eileen Choate.
 
Puryear on Choate: "She has excellent feel around the court and great variety. She's a very versatile player which should serve her well at the collegiate level."
 
Christina Danford | 5-9 | Hattiesburg, Miss. | Sacred Heart
Attended Sacred Heart Catholic High School, playing five seasons for the tennis team … Played in the No. 1 spot for both singles and doubles … Helped Sacred Heart win three state team championships … Two-time 1A state singles champion … Selected to Mississippi Junior Team for the Southern Cup nine times … Crowned 16s and 18s champion at the USTA Mississippi Closed Championship … Ranked top player in Mississippi across all age divisions … Rated a Top-25 player in the nation by the USTA … Ranked a four-star recruit by TennisRecruiting.net … Also ran cross country and track for Sacred Heart … Named all-state for both cross country and track, winning the state championship in the outdoor 1600m … High School Valedictorian … Member of Sacred Heart's Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society and STEM Team … National Merit Finalist … Presidential Scholar Program candidate … 2022 Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi winner … Daughter of Joseph and Beth Danford … Father served in Air Force … Brother attended United States Military Academy at West Point.
 
Puryear on Danford: "She brings great on-court intensity, which should translate well to collegiate play. She has a great grasp of the strengths in her game and uses them to maximum benefit on the court."
 
Hanna Elks Smith | 5-9 | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Pine Crest
Attended Pine Crest School, playing tennis for two seasons … Helped Pine Crest capture the district and conference team championships as a junior … Captured the individual district championship as a sophomore and junior … Served as a team captain for two years … Teammate of Harvard tennis student-athlete Demi Snyder and professional player Akasha Urhobo … Ranked a three-star recruit by TennisRecruiting.net … Also competed for Pine Crest's swimming and track teams … Was an All-American swimmer, helping Pine Crest take home state team championships as a sophomore and junior while also being part of a combined four state champion relay teams … Captured an individual district championship on the track … Named Broward Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Miami Herald as a senior … Member of Pine Crest's English Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society and Math Honors Society … Daughter of Charles "Bubba" and Constance "Connie" Smith … Father played football for four seasons at Duke University.
 
Puryear on Smith: "Having been a two-sport athlete, she has a hunger for improvement. Her great focus and work ethic will serve her well as she continues to tap into reaching her full potential."