HILO, Hawai`i--University of Hawai`i Hilo tennis coach Tina McDermott has announced the signing of four women's tennis players to National Letters of Intent during the NCAA's early signing period.

Joining the Vulcan program in 2017-18 will be Carmelle Joyner (Clayton, North Carolina), Madeline Bush (Murrieta, Calif.), Irena Le (Garden Grove, Calif.) and Gabriela Aguilar Lawlor (Litchfield Park, Ariz.).

""I am extremely excited about the 2017 recruiting class," McDermott said. "I have signed four excellent student-athletes who will make a huge contribution to our program."  

Joyner is a four-time conference singles champion at Clayton High School. She won the Greater Neuse River AAAA Conference title in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. She played No. 1 singles and doubles all four years at Clayton, and is ranked 13th in North Carolina. She lists No. 397 nationally. She is a three-time conference player of the year award winner and has also been named to the all-academic team. She carries a 4.35 grade point average and is a Honor Roll, Principal's List and French National Honor Society honoree. 

Bush reached the CIF finals in 2016 while playing for Vista Murrieta High School. She is a two-time first team all-league selection and a four-year letterwinner. She carries a 3.5 GPA.

Le is a four-time team MVP at Pacifica High School. She is a two-time finalist in the Empire League in singles, and has won the league title in doubles. She is ranked 90th in California and lists No. 557 nationally. She carries a 3.48 GPA and received the Vietnamese Foundation Award/Scholarship.

Aguilar Lawlor was the section player of the year in doubles for three years while at Millennium High School. She is ranked No. 11 in Arizona and No. 597 nationally. She twice won Millennium's MVP award and played No. 1 singles for two years. She was selected for Junior World Team Tennis by Bille Jean King in 2014 and 2015. She has a 4.0 GPA and represented Millennium at the National Youth Leadership Convention in Washington, D.C.

"They are team players that will make an immediate impact to our team," McDermott added. "I am looking forward to seeing them grow as student-athletes, and helping them achieve their academic and athletic goals here at Hawai`i Hilo."