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2010 Hall of Fame Inductions
People Who Changed The Game
In 2010, we inducted 4 incredible women and 2 impactful gentlemen into the Hall of Fame. Each of their legacies has created a lasting impact on the sport of tennis and will for the rest of time.
Inductees
Barbara Hallquist DeGroot
The first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship at the University of Southern California, Barbara Hallquist DeGroot (b. 1957) helped to pioneer a championship legacy for Trojan women’s tennis. Hallquist began tennis lessons at age 10 in Arcadia, California, and with support from the Pasadena Foothill Tennis Patrons, she became a top junior player, winning two national titles and receiving the USTA Girls’ Sportsmanship Trophy in 1975.
At USC, under the guidance of Coach David Borelli, she captured the national collegiate singles title in both 1976 and 1977, and played on four national championship teams. Turning pro after graduating with honors from USC, Hallquist employed her formidable serve-and-volley game to reach the singles quarterfinals at the U.S. Open in 1980, also making two doubles quarterfinal appearances.
She returned to USC from 1985 to 1988 to work with David Borelli as assistant women’s coach, celebrating a national championship title with the 1985 team. Active as a youth sports coach, volunteer and mother, she now serves as varsity tennis coach at Cate School in California.
At USC, under the guidance of Coach David Borelli, she captured the national collegiate singles title in both 1976 and 1977, and played on four national championship teams. Turning pro after graduating with honors from USC, Hallquist employed her formidable serve-and-volley game to reach the singles quarterfinals at the U.S. Open in 1980, also making two doubles quarterfinal appearances.
She returned to USC from 1985 to 1988 to work with David Borelli as assistant women’s coach, celebrating a national championship title with the 1985 team. Active as a youth sports coach, volunteer and mother, she now serves as varsity tennis coach at Cate School in California.
Carrie Meyer Richardson
A native of Indianapolis, Carrie Meyer Richardson (b. 1955) scored an upset victory at age 16 at the Indiana State Women’s Championships, just four years after she started tennis lessons. Developing her game with great support from the Indianapolis tennis community, Meyer took home three national titles in USTA junior competition. At the recommendation of women’s tour pioneer Peachy Kellmeyer, Meyer went on to play tennis at Marymount College in Florida. In a thrilling three-set match, she won the national collegiate singles title as a freshman in 1974.
The day after her collegiate win, Meyer boarded a plane for England to play at Wimbledon, her first tournament as a pro, reaching the quarterfinals in mixed doubles. Playing for eight seasons in the formative years of the women’s pro circuit, she attained a career high world ranking of No. 14. Meyer then completed her bachelor’s degree at Purdue University while coaching the women’s tennis team. Inducted into the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005, Meyer now lives outside Seattle with her husband Patrick and son Michael.
The day after her collegiate win, Meyer boarded a plane for England to play at Wimbledon, her first tournament as a pro, reaching the quarterfinals in mixed doubles. Playing for eight seasons in the formative years of the women’s pro circuit, she attained a career high world ranking of No. 14. Meyer then completed her bachelor’s degree at Purdue University while coaching the women’s tennis team. Inducted into the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005, Meyer now lives outside Seattle with her husband Patrick and son Michael.
Courtney Allen
Courtney Allen started playing competitive tennis in the ninth grade and quickly rose to the top of the state high school ranks. With the help of local teaching pro Buddy Strawn, Allen and doubles partner, Jill Joslin, captured the Illinois State Doubles Championship for Bloomington High School in 1982. Attracting the attention of Division I schools, Allen chose instead to attend Principia College, a Division III school that had just won a small college national team title. With the addition of Allen, Principia would dominate Division III tennis from 1983 to 1987.
Under Coach Lyn Gerber DeLaney, Allen, a left-hander, adopted an aggressive serve-and volley game. As a freshman in 1984, she won the NCAA Division III singles and doubles titles, earning national Rookie of the Year honors. Altogether, she appeared in eight consecutive Division III finals, winning a total of six national titles and crowning her college career as Division III Senior Player of the Year.
After graduation, Allen earned a world ranking in singles and doubles. She currently owns and operates her own academy, encouraging juniors of all ages and ability levels to learn and love the game.
Under Coach Lyn Gerber DeLaney, Allen, a left-hander, adopted an aggressive serve-and volley game. As a freshman in 1984, she won the NCAA Division III singles and doubles titles, earning national Rookie of the Year honors. Altogether, she appeared in eight consecutive Division III finals, winning a total of six national titles and crowning her college career as Division III Senior Player of the Year.
After graduation, Allen earned a world ranking in singles and doubles. She currently owns and operates her own academy, encouraging juniors of all ages and ability levels to learn and love the game.
David Borelli
Coach of the women’s tennis team at the University of Southern California from 1974 to 1988, David Borelli (b. 1951) netted seven national team championships and compiled a remarkable .870 winning percentage overall. An excellent junior player, Borelli entered USC in 1970 and competed on the men’s varsity team, earning Senior Scholar-Athlete honors on graduating. He began working with the fledgling Trojan women’s team while attending USC Law School, and discovered that coaching, not law, was his true calling. In 1981, Borelli was named NCAA National Collegiate Coach of the Year.
During his USC career, Borelli guided individual team members to five national collegiate singles titles and one national doubles title; 25 of his players earned a total of 56 All–America honors. He continued his work mentoring players, including future top pro Mardy Fish, as a USTA professional tour coach.
In 2002, Borelli became women’s coach at Texas Christian University, capturing ITA Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2005. Heading up the TCU men’s team from 2006 to 2010, Borelli has crowned his stellar career with a return to the TCU women’s team.
Borelli passed away in 2023.
During his USC career, Borelli guided individual team members to five national collegiate singles titles and one national doubles title; 25 of his players earned a total of 56 All–America honors. He continued his work mentoring players, including future top pro Mardy Fish, as a USTA professional tour coach.
In 2002, Borelli became women’s coach at Texas Christian University, capturing ITA Regional Coach of the Year honors in 2005. Heading up the TCU men’s team from 2006 to 2010, Borelli has crowned his stellar career with a return to the TCU women’s team.
Borelli passed away in 2023.
Ed Hegmann
Twice named NCAA Division III Coach of the Year, Edward “Ed” Hegmann (b. 1943) has mentored student-athletes at the University of Mary Washington for more than three decades. A three-sport high school athlete in Pittsburgh, Hegmann briefly considered a career in professional baseball. He put down his glove and picked up his old tennis racket after college and military service, taking on his first coaching job as a graduate student. After earning his Ed.D. at Temple University,
Hegmann began his distinguished career at UMW in 1976. As UMW women’s tennis coach, Hegmann guided his Eagles players to three national collegiate titles and nine straight conference titles over 23 years. Dedicated to serving the sport, he directed the ITA and NCAA southeast regional tournaments for 20 years and hosted three NCAA Division III national men’s and women’s tournaments at UMW. During his tenure as UMW athletic director, Hegmann grew the program from six to 23 varsity sports. In 2010, he was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics as a winner of the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year Award.
Hegmann began his distinguished career at UMW in 1976. As UMW women’s tennis coach, Hegmann guided his Eagles players to three national collegiate titles and nine straight conference titles over 23 years. Dedicated to serving the sport, he directed the ITA and NCAA southeast regional tournaments for 20 years and hosted three NCAA Division III national men’s and women’s tournaments at UMW. During his tenure as UMW athletic director, Hegmann grew the program from six to 23 varsity sports. In 2010, he was honored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics as a winner of the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year Award.
JoAnne Russell
Raised in a tennis-loving family in Naples, Florida, JoAnne Russell (b. 1954) sharpened her skills as a youngster hitting against senior male players. Recognizing her potential, local coach Tommy Boys took her on as a student and saw her rise to the top of the collegiate and professional ranks. At Trinity University, Russell won the national collegiate doubles title with Donna Stockton in 1975 and helped her team capture two national championships. Turning pro after her junior year, she reached No. 1 in the world doubles rankings in 1977 after a stunning victory in Wimbledon ladies’ doubles with Helen Gourlay.
Playing on the pro circuit until 1988, Russell was also tapped by major TV networks as a broadcast commentator for Grand Slam and WTA events. Never losing her competitive drive, she won three Grand Slam master’s crowns in doubles and captured a World Cup singles title in 2009. From 1998 to 2005, she served as assistant coach at the University of Illinois, earning ITA Big 10 Assistant Coach of the Year honors. A USTA-certified High Performance Coach, Russell now works as a teaching pro in Pacific Palisades, California.
Playing on the pro circuit until 1988, Russell was also tapped by major TV networks as a broadcast commentator for Grand Slam and WTA events. Never losing her competitive drive, she won three Grand Slam master’s crowns in doubles and captured a World Cup singles title in 2009. From 1998 to 2005, she served as assistant coach at the University of Illinois, earning ITA Big 10 Assistant Coach of the Year honors. A USTA-certified High Performance Coach, Russell now works as a teaching pro in Pacific Palisades, California.
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