July 1, 2009

FORMER WOMEN’S TENNIS STANDOUT, RACHEL GALE, HIRED AS HEAD COACH AT MEREDITH COLLEGE

RALEIGH, N.C. – With legendary college athletic programs usually comes a lineage of former players earning prestigious coaching jobs.

The Virginia Commonwealth University women’s tennis program can be added to that list as former Black & Gold standout Rachel Gale was recently named head coach at Meredith College, an NCAA Division III institution.

“I’m extremely excited about the opportunity that I have been granted with,” Gale stated. “I know there is still a lot to learn, but I think this is a great chance to get my foot in the door and hopefully the start of a long coaching career.”

Gale served as the team captain during her two seasons at VCU (1990, 1991), compiling a singles record of 33-25 and a 27-10 doubles mark. She led the Rams to a third place finish in the Sun Belt during her senior season and earned Third Team All-Conference accolades.

In 1993, just two years after graduating from VCU with a degree in Parks and Recreation, the Brockport, N.Y., native became the only woman to win the City of Richmond singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions. She repeated that feat in 2003 and 2006.

She went on to win six different City of Richmond Singles Championships, the last coming in 2006.

Gale recently served as the captain of the 2009 United States Women’s 40-Young Cup International Tennis team in their bronze medal victory over host Spain in Mallorca, Spain. She was also invited to join the 2008 United States Women’s Team at the Suzanne Lenglen Cup International Tennis competition in Antalya, Turkey, where her team finished in fourth place.  In 2008, Gale was runner-up in singles in the 35’s National Indoor and third at the 35’s National Clay Courts.

She is currently ranked #1 in the USTA North Carolina 35 and over class, sixth nationally and 15th in the world.