May 8, 2003

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's tennis program signed 5-9 right-hander Kimberly Daniel of Edmonton, Alberta, to a national letter of intent, head coach Aby Ryan announced during the late signing period that began April 16. Daniel will join the Bronco program this fall as a freshman and is the first of an expected three players expected to sign.

"Kim will make an immediate impact on our program, probably playing in the top three singles positions," Ryan said. "She is a great student and athlete and Santa Clara will make an ideal fit for her."

Daniel is the top-ranked junior girls' tennis player in Western Canada. She is the current Alberta U18 Junior Champion and has represented that province in the Canadian National for each of the last four seasons. She went 18-0 in sanctioned junior events during the 2002 season and is currently ranked 16th nationally for juniors in Canada.

An honors student at Ross Sheppard High School, Daniel also considered Dartmouth and Brown of the Ivy League before selecting Santa Clara. Her brother, Chris, is a former Division I tennis player and currently a graduate student at Stanford. Additionally, both of her parents also attended college in the Bay Area.

Daniel will be the latest in a line of Canadian student-athletes--led by the Dallas Mavericks' Steve Nash--who have attended Santa Clara.

The Broncos finished their season in mid-April with a 10-10 record, and placed third at the West Coast Conference Championship, tying its highest finish ever, set during the 2002 season.