SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The University of Sioux Falls Head Tennis Coach Kevin Grebin has announced the signing of Ella Hancock of Jordan, Minn., who will continue her academic and athletic career at USF.

Hancock joins Sydney Osburn of Henderson, Nev. in USF's 2022-23 signing class. 

"We are pleased to announce Ella to our 2022-23 recruiting class," said Grebin. "She had an outstanding high school career with 60 singles wins, state titles and was accomplished in doubles with some 76 total wins. Her tennis skills will contribute significantly to the continuing success of our tennis team," he said.

The daughter of Nathan and Cassandra Hancock, she was a tennis standout for Rapid City (S.D.) Christian High School as she had a 60-19 singles record and a 76-24 doubles mark. Hancock played A Flight 1 in singles and doubles all four years of high school and won back-to-back state championships in singles and doubles in her junior and senior seasons. She was also undefeated in singles (21-0) as a senior, and received the Spirit of Max Award that same year. In doubles, she finished 23-4 as a senior. During her junior year, she was 19-1 in singles and 19-3 in doubles. She was the state runner-up in singles her sophomore year with an overall 15-6 record with a 12-10 doubles mark. In the state finals, she lost in a third set as a sophomore. Also, she was 5-12 in singles and 15-11 in doubles as a freshman. Due to her outstanding play, she was named to the "Best of the West Girls Tennis Team" after her junior season.

Hancock, who was homeschooled through Invictus Homeschool, plans to major in Exercise Science and Psychology while at USF. She is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

In 2021, the USF Tennis Team (7-6) advanced to the NSIC Tournament for the sixth time in seven years. The Cougars finished 7-4 in league play and earned the No. 6 seed in the league tourney.