The push toward a fourth NCAA Tournament appearance this decade for the Northwestern State Lady Demons tennis team is underway with head coach Olga Bazhanova announcing the signing of an outstanding junior player.

Judit Castillo Gargallo will join the NSU program this fall after winning several Spanish national junior tournaments and posting wins over world top 500 International Tennis Federation junior competitors.

She played soccer in a school team, and competed at a championship level in track and field and cross country, along with her tennis activities. Also an outstanding student, she is the youngest of three children, with her two older siblings each holding master’s degrees

“We are very excited to have Judit as a part of our program. She is an excellent student and will be a great fit for our team,” said Bazhanova. “Judit is very athletic with strong work ethic and very motivated to be a part of our successful program.”

Bazhanova has led the Lady Demons to two straight Southland Conference Tournament championship matches, with the 2015 team winning and reaching the third NCAA Tournament this decade. NSU has played in the last four Southland Tournament finals, the first two with Bazhanova as assistant coach.

The NSU program also has consistently received annual academic honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Natalya Krutova, a 2016 graduate, is on the Academic All-America ballot.