May 19, 2006

Duquesne University head women's tennis coach Joe Camillo announced today the signing of Rachel McGowan (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) to a National Letter of Intent beginning with the 2006-07 season.

McGowan led her Canfield high school tennis team to an undefeated season in 2005 and a top 10 team ranking in Ohio's Division I each of her four years. She reigned as the 2004 D1 Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Doubles State Champion and competed in the 2003 OHSAA singles championship bracket. She boasts an overall No. 1 singles mark of 94-21 and a 23-1 doubles record over her prep career. McGowan was named All-State in 2004 and 2005 and is a four-year first team All-Metro Athletic Conference pick.

McGowan is nationally ranked in the USTA 2006 College Recruiting List and went 8-9 in tournament play competing in the USTA National Opens, NEOTA Midwest Qualifier Pattison Championships, Midwest Closed Juniors, Southern Boys' & Girls' 18 Open and the Midwest Open Championships.

She writes for her school newspaper, The Cardinal, volunteers at an inner-city church and at the Millcreek Children's Center. McGowan is an honor roll student and has twice been named a Scholar Athlete of the Week. She intends to major in political science.

Duquesne posted a 14-10 overall record for the 2005-06 season and placed eighth in the 2006 Atlantic 10 tournament which features 14 institutions.