Nt Tennis Loi Romania's Elite International Player

[OldTimer]

North Texas Tennis Inks Romanian Standout Paraschiv

Courtesy: University of North Texas

Release: 07/09/2008

DENTON, Texas (7/10/08) – The North Texas tennis team signed one of Romania’s elite, Irina-Alexandra Paraschiv, to a National Letter of Intent.

Paraschiv has seen extensive international competition, and reached a high of No. 1 on the U-18 Romanian national rankings and No. 150 on the International Tennis Federation U-18 rankings. She joins her countrywoman, Paula Dinuta, as newcomers to the Mean Green roster, and will be eligible to play this fall.

"Irina is an impressive tennis player who has had tremendous success at the international level," said North Texas head coach Sujay Lama. "She will add greatly to what we have started here at North Texas and make an immediate impact. We are very excited that Irina has chosen North Texas to pursue her quest to be the very best student athlete she possibly can."

A veteran of international tournaments from Brazil to Japan since the age of 10, Paraschiv advanced to the doubles final and the round of 16 in singles play at the 2005 Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships, considered one of the world’s top 10 youth tournaments. She also placed second at the Sturdza Cup in Moldovia and third at the Tivoli Trophy in Romania, and also participated in the Australian Open.

The Bucharest, Romania, native was listed as high as No. 18 in the European Tennis Association rankings as a U-16.

North Texas tennis is coming off its best season since 1986-87, and posted a 13-9 record after a 2-19 campaign in 2007. The Mean Green received a No. 13 ranking in the Southwest Region, and sophomore Madura Ranganathan was tabbed as the region’s 30th ranked singles player.