Westmont College Athletics

By Tim Heiduk
May 22, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) The Westmont women's tennis team has signed Logan Jackson of Boise, Idaho and Olivia Madarang of San Diego ahead of next season, head coach Ellie Johnson announced.
 
"We are very excited to have Olivia and Logan joining us," Johnson said. "I look forward to them both bringing depth to our program. It is exciting to have an incoming freshman class of players who both have an incredible work ethic.
 
"They train hard and enjoy it. I have confidence they will not only fit in well with our team and Westmont's community, but will be active members and add a great deal."
 
Jackson is a four-time doubles champion at the level 5 Montana State Junior Open, winning the title in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019. She also won doubles championships at the level 6 Idaho Grand Prix District Open and level 5 Ed Treat Memorial Junior Championships.
 
"I am most looking forward to belonging to a community of players who share a love for the game of tennis," Jackson said. "I am very excited to have a team that I can feel encouraged by and represent in the best way I can."
 
Jackson is an online school student at International Virtual Learning Academy, but she was able to play two years for her local Timberline High School team. As a freshman, she played at number one doubles and finished fourth in the state. The following year, she played at number one singles and also placed fourth in the state.
 
"I really appreciate that people went out of their way to get to know me when I first visited the campus," Jackson said. "Because of Westmont's community, I know that the next four years are going to be great."
 
Jackson said she intends to major in biology and follow Westmont's pre-med track.
 
"As an athlete, my main goal is to make consistent progress in becoming a better competitor in tennis," Jackson said. "As a student, I hope to take advantage of Westmont's resources and learn all that I can in biology. I hope to relate my experiences in class and on the court in a way that helps me develop a more meaningful relationship with God."
 
Madarang will graduate from High Tech High Media Arts, where her team qualified for the CIF-San Diego Section Division 3 playoffs every year they were held. She also won her league singles' tournament every year as the number one player on her team. In 2020, she was named Eastern League Player of the Year and earned First Team All-League honors.
 
"I've always wanted to play college tennis since I was a kid," Madarang said. "I'm excited to grow as a player and physically. I played on a tennis team when I was 12-14 and it was my favorite time, competing and traveling with a group. I'm excited to do it for Westmont."
 
In 2019, Madarang won the Bryan Brothers SoCal Doubles Race in the girls' 16's age group. She held a universal tennis rating of 7 in singles and 9 in doubles, on a scale of 1-16, before the COVID-19 outbreak halted play.
 
"When I visited Westmont, everyone was so nice and welcoming," Madarang said. "You could tell all of the players and the coach had a strong bond and cared for each other on and off the tennis court."
 
Madarang, who trained in Spain with retired professional players for a month during the summer of 2019, said she intends to major in kinesiology and minor in Spanish.
 
"I hope to improve my singles' game, grow my stamina and also continue to learn how to manage my time with school and tennis," Madarang said. "Juggling both may be stressful, but I believe that I'll have a good support system and be motivated to focus on both equally."
 
Jackson and Madarang join a Westmont team that finished the shortened 2020 season ranked 18th in the NAIA. The Warriors will also return All-American captain Cade Pierson, who announced she plans to fulfill her final season of athletic eligibility that was granted to her by the NAIA when the 2020 season was cut short.
 
"I am very excited for the future of our program," Johnson said. "We have a committed group of returning players and are adding some solid incoming freshmen. With the foundation we laid this past season, we have a lot to work with and build on."