URBANA, Ill. – The Illinois Women's Tennis team has announced the addition of Emilee Duong, who will compete in the 2017-18. Duong joins Alexandra "Sasha" Belaya, Asuka Kawai and Mia Rabinowitz as a member of head coach Evan Clark's first recruiting class at Illinois.

"We could not be more excited to have someone of Emilee's caliber joining our program and adding to an already fantastic class for 2017," Clark said. "We feel very fortunate that Emilee decided to join the Illini women's tennis family.  "We are very grateful that she felt our program was the best program for her to maximize her development both on and off the court for her four years."

EMILEE DUONG // PLACENTIA, CALIF. // VALENCIA H.S.

Nationally ranked as a top-35 prospect, Duong is the No. 7 prospect in California and the No. 7 prospect in the Southwest. A five-star prospect, Duong won the National Selection L2 G18 Double in both Las Vegas in 2017 and Hawaii in 2016, and place first at the National Warmup L3 G18 Double in 2016. She also placed second at the 2016 Winter National G18 Double and the 2016 Spring Team Championship, placed third at the National Selection L2 G18 Doubles in Hawaii in 2016 and Stockton in 2014, and finished in third place at the 2015 National Warmup L3 G16 Single in 2015. Duong led Valencia High School to the 2015 CIF Division 3 title in 2015, a four-time Distinguished Scholar, and is a member of the National Honor Society and an International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate.

"Emilee is an extremely athletic and intelligent individual," Clark said. "We feel like she is a perfect fit for what we are doing here at Illinois and we know she will do great things during her time with us.  We are really excited to get her on campus in the fall."

Duong is the daughter of Nien and Katie Duong.

November Signing Day Release:

Women's Tennis Signs Three for 2017-18