Head Coach Tennis/ Assistant Athletics Director/ SWA - Kelly Weaver
weaverke@meredith.edu

Kelly Weaver enters her third year as head coach of the Meredith College tennis team.  During the 2006-2007 season, Weaver led the team to a 14-3 record which gained the Avenging Angels their second NCAA bid in school history.  Last year Meredith went 6-2 in head-to-head competition with teams in the USA South Athletic Conference, and Weaver hopes to continue the success of the program as Meredith enters the conference as a new member.  Since Weaver began as coach, enthusiasm around the tennis program has risen, creating a much deeper program, and the team has grown from six players to twelve. 

In her role as Assistant Athletics Director and Senior Women Administrator, Weaver has a wide range of responsibilities.  This summer Weaver organized the First Annual Meredith Masters Showcase for former college tennis players in the area, and in the spring focused much of her attention on fundraising and event planning for the Ninth Annual Meredith College Golf Classic as well as the Annual Spring Banquet.  Weaver also serves as the staff advisor for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and stays involved with game management and compliance for all six sports on Meredith’s campus.  Weaver served as a facilitator to LeaderShape in May 2007 and is also currently teaching a section of the freshman class First Year Experience specifically for incoming student-athletes.

Weaver grew up in Kingston, N.Y., where she was a high school stand-out.  She was the New York State Public High School champion as a sophomore and was ranked as high as #38 nationally.  Weaver went on to receive a full scholarship to play tennis at the University of Virginia, where she served as captain and was voted Most Valuable Player her junior and senior years.  Weaver played in two NCAA Championships (1998 & 2001) and currently is ranked 5th in career singles wins and 6th in career doubles wins at Virginia.  In 2001 Weaver was named the ITA/Cissy Leary Sportsmanship Award Winner.  During her college years, Weaver was honored to be asked twice to be doubles partner with Billie Jean King in exhibitions held at the Concord Tennis Club in Kiamesha, N.Y., and also held internships at Madison Square Garden as well as Sports Illustrated.

Weaver has also excelled academically.  She was named to the All-ACC Honor Roll every semester while at Virginia and was also named a Scholar Athlete All-American by the NCAA.  Weaver enjoyed being involved while at Virginia and served as a Student Athlete Mentor for six semesters as well as a representative on the President’s Council. 

After college Weaver took a job in New York City as a legal assistant at the law firm Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, LLP before she decided to attend the University of North Carolina—School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor and was on the Deans List for all six semesters.  For two years during law school Weaver worked at the UNC Athletic Department part-time in Ticket Operations as well as teaching tennis at the Chapel Hill Tennis Club.  For one semester, Weaver interned at the NC State University Counsel, where she revised policies and regulations pertaining to athletics, among other duties. 

After graduation from law school in May 2005, Weaver accepted a job at the law firm of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP in Atlanta, GA, where she practiced in the securities litigation practice group.  After one year, Weaver decided to pursue her passion of athletics and accepted a job at Meredith College as the Assistant Athletics Director and Head Tennis Coach. 

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Assistant Coach - Rachel Gale
galerach@meredith.edu

Rachel Gale enters her first season as the assistant tennis coach at Meredith College. The Virginia native joins the staff of Head Coach Kelly Weaver.

Gale brings fifteen years of championship level tennis to Meredith.  The United States Tennis Association selected Gale to join the 2008 United States Women’s Tennis Team.  Gale will compete in this year’s Suzanne Lenglen Cup international tennis competition in Antalya, Turkey, October 12-18, 2008.  In 2008, she was runner up in singles in the 35’s National Indoor and 3rd at the 35’s National Claycourts.   She is currently ranked #6 in singles in the USA. 

Gale graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University in 1989 with an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts.  She then went on to Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned a degree in Parks and Recreation in 1992. 

Gale is also a tennis teaching professional at the Lochmere Swim and Tennis Club in Cary, N.C.

Playing Career Highlights
2008 - Selected as one of four women in the USTA 35’s age group to play in the Senior World Team Championships on the Suzanne Lenglen Cup Team in Antalya, Turkey, Won a 2nd place Silver ball in the women’s 35s National Indoor Hard Court Tournament in singles, Won a 3rd place Bronze ball in the women’s 35s National Clay Court Tournament in singles
2006 - City of Richmond 6th Women’s Singles , Doubles, and Mixed Doubles Champion (currently the only woman to win all three events for the 3rd time)
2005 - City of Richmond 5th Women’s Singles Champion, Richmond Times Dispatch “Player of the Year” for #1 singles ranking
2004 - USPTR Women’s Doubles Champion,Virginia State Indoor Women’s Doubles Champion
2003 - City of Richmond Women’s Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles Champion (currently the only woman to win all three events for the second time)
2001 - Virginia State Indoor Women’s Singles Champion
2000 - Country Club of Petersburg Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles Champion
1999 - City of Richmond Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles Champion
1998 - Virginia State Indoor Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles Champion, City of Richmond Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles Champion
1997 - City of Richmond Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles Champion, State Clay Court Women’s Singles Champion, State Hard Court Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles Champion, Ranked #1 in Women’s Singles in Virginia
1993 - City of Richmond Women’s Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles Champion (currently the only woman to win all three events)