ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy women's tennis head coach Keith Puryear announced the addition of six freshmen for the 2023-24 campaign on Wednesday.
 
A group that was rated as the 18th-best mid-major recruiting class by the Tennis Recruiting Network, Puryear and associate head coach Alessandra Pedergnana will welcome newcomers Makaila Cheng, Olivia Fermo, Anna Jordaan, Julia Lee, Carly Mew and Manci Pal to the team as the Midshipmen prepare to open the fall slate on Sept. 8 at the Bill & Sandra Moore Invitational.
 
"This year's plebe class is the largest that we've had in some time," said Puryear. "Each brings very unique talents to the table. Their accomplishments in the junior ranks and talent level implies that each could potentially challenge our returners. Several are from some of the toughest sections in the country and are battle-tested competitors."
 
"Our jobs as coaches will be to get them acclimated to competition at the collegiate level and to get the most out of their abilities. Their presence will make our team much deeper than we have been over the past few seasons. We are looking forward to seeing all six in action."
 
Makaila Cheng – 5-4 – Arcadia High School / Arcadia, Calif.
Rated as a four-star player by the USTA … Attended Arcadia High School, earning four varsity letters in tennis … Named the Arcadia Athlete of the Year as a senior … Earned All-Pacific League honors in singles play all four years … Was an All-Pacific League double players all four years … Advanced to sectional finals of doubles play as a freshman … Was a CIF state doubles finalist as both a sophomore and senior … Named a Scholar-Athlete and the team MVP in each of her four years playing for Arcadia … Competed at the USTA Winter Nationals … Member of the National Honor Society and the UCLA Mattel Youth Ambassador program … Daughter of Michael and Mey Cheng.
 
Olivia Fermo – 5-4 – St. Anthony's High School / Smithtown, N.Y.
Ranked as a four-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network and the USTA … Played in national and sectional doubles tournaments throughout high school career … Named an All-American as a freshman … Also ran varsity cross country during her freshman year, earning the Award for Academic and Athletic Excellence from St. Anthony's … Received the St. Bonaventure Award all four years of high school … Daughter of Carlos and Jennifer Fermo.
 
Anna Jordaan – 5-7 – Colorado Academy / Denver, Colo.
Ranked as a four-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network … Played at No. 1 singles spot for Colorado Academy during all four years at Colorado Academy … Won the No. 1 singles regional and state championships as both a sophomore and senior … Named all-district, all-region and all-state honors as a sophomore … Went undefeated as a senior to set a school record, picking up all-district, all-region and all-state distinction in the process … Also served as team captain as a senior and won the Colorado Academy Athlete of the Year … Daughter of Hendrik and Ashley Jordaan … Father, Hendrik, played collegiate tennis at SMU from 1990-93 … Brother, Richter, played collegiate tennis at MIT from 2019-23 … Sister, Caroline, golfed collegiately at Denver (2019-21) and TCU (2021-23) … Sister, Marie, is a golfer at Santa Clara.
 
Julia Lee – 5-3 – Rick Reedy High School / Frisco, Texas
Ranked as a three-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network … Played tennis at Rick Reedy High School for four years … Trained at the Lakes Tennis Academy … Finished second in the Texas 6A Tournament as a freshman … Helped the Reedy team claim the 6A district championship during her senior season … Daughter of Charles and Soohee Lee.
 
Carly Mew – 5-2 – Robinson Secondary School / Centreville, Va.
Played tennis for four seasons for Robinson Secondary … Helped the Rams advance to the Class 6 State Finals during her senior year … Also went undefeated in singles play as a senior while playing on the top doubles pairing alongside Deana Sultanaeva … Also ran track at Robinson Secondary … Daughter of Andrew Mew and Becky Chow.
 
Manci Pal – 5-9 – Riviera Beach, Fla. / Saint Andrew's School
Ranked as a three-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network … Played tennis for five years at Saint Andrew's School, reaching the No. 2 singles position as a junior … Helped the Scots take home the Class 1A FHSAA State Championship as an eighth-grader, freshman and junior ... Was part of the Saint Andrew's squad that placed third in the national championships as a freshman … Served as team captain during her senior year … Played with Sarah Snyder (Furman) and Santianna Chrysopoulo (Delaware) … Daughter of Nora Szigeti.