Women’s tennis welcomes six new additions for the 2024-25 season

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Head Coach of the Navy Women’s Tennis Team Keith Puryear announced on Thursday the addition of six newcomers for the 2024-25 season.

A group ranked as the 12th best mid-major recruiting class by the Tennis Recruiting Network, Puryear and assistant head coach Alessandra Pedergnana will welcome new arrivals Peyton Amspacher Philemon, Molly Bellia, Emma Gu, Grace Li, Ji Soo Oh And Vanessa Popescu to the team as the Midshipmen prepare to open the fall schedule at the Bill & Sandra Moore Invitational on September 6.

“The Navy Women’s Tennis family welcomes this elite group to our ranks,” said Puryear. “With hard work and dedication in developing their games for college tennis, we are excited to see what the future holds for everyone in this group here at Navy.”

Peyton Amspacher Philemon – 5-5 – Wilmington, NC/New Hanover

Rated as a four-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network… Attended Naval Academy Prep School during the 2023-24 school year… A 2023 graduate of New Hanover High School in Wilmington, NC, played tennis on the school team from freshman through junior year… Named a 2021-22 High School All-American along with his current Navy teammate Molly Bellia … Was a North Carolina 3A doubles finalist as a freshman in 2019 and reached the semifinals of the 3A state singles championship in her sophomore season in 2020 … Also won the NCHSAA 3A East Regional singles tournament as a freshman and sophomore … Named the Wilmington StarNews All-Area Player of the Year as a freshman and sophomore and also earned First-Team All-Area honors … Awarded Coastal Preps Player of the Year as a freshman and sophomore … Remains undefeated in singles as a freshman and sophomore … Also attended Barth Hawtin Tennis Academy in Kiawah Island, SC … Daughter of Elisabeth Amspacher … Family friend of former Navy tennis player Audrey Channell (USNA Class of 2017).

Molly Bellia – 5-7 – Granger, Indiana/Saint Joseph

Rated as a four-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network…Excelled in tennis for four seasons at Saint Joseph High School, ranking No. 1 in singles all four years…Named a High School All-American along with his current teammates at Navy Emma Gu And Grace Li … Named High School All-American 2021-22 along with his current teammate at Navy Peyton Amspacher Philemon … Won the IHSAA individual title as a freshman in 2021, was the state individual runner-up her sophomore year in 2022 and reached the state individual quarterfinals as a junior in 2023 … Led Saint Joseph to the 2024 team state championship as a senior after finishing as the runner-up in 2021 and 2023 and falling in the team semifinals in 2022 … Named Northern Indiana Conference MVP in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 … Was selected to All-State First Team, All-District First Team and All-Northern Indiana Conference First Team in each of her four years at Saint Joseph … Named team captain her sophomore, third and fourth years … Received the 2024 IHSAA Mental Attitude Award for mental attitude, sportsmanship, scholarship and leadership … High school teammate of Ashi Amalnathan (South Carolina State) in tennis … Played doubles in club tennis with current Navy teammate Emma Gu … Was also a member of the Saint Joseph’s cross country team for three seasons, where she was selected to the All-Northern Indiana Conference Second Team as a senior and twice named to the Academic All-State Team … Plays piano and cello … Daughter of Anthony and Patricia Bellia … Mother Patricia played tennis at Harvard and won two honors … Sister Kate is a senior on the Notre Dame women’s tennis team.

Emma Gu – 5-6 – West Lafayette, Indiana/Harrison

Rated as a five-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network… Played tennis on the William Henry Harrison High School varsity team for four years… Named a 2023-24 High School All-American along with his current teammates at Navy Molly Bellia And Grace Li … Named High School All-American 2022-23 along with his current teammate at Navy Grace Li … Was the IHSAA’s singles runner-up in 2024 after reaching the quarterfinals in 2023 and the semifinals in 2021 … Helped Harrison reach the state team semifinals as a senior in 2014 … Led Harrison to the sectional championships in 2021, 2023 and 2024 … Was named to the All-State First Team and All-District selections her freshman, third and fourth years … Was named to the Academic All-State Team as a senior … Also earned varsity letters in cross country and track and field at Harrison University … Played doubles in club tennis with her current teammate at Navy Molly Bellia … daughter of Peter Gu and Ping Wan … brother Aaron is a member of the Navy men’s tennis team and the USNA class of 2027.

Grace Li – 5-7 – West Chester, Pa./Unionville

Rated as a five-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network…Played tennis on the varsity team at Unionville High School for three years…Named a High School All-American for the 2023-24 season along with his current teammates at Navy Molly Bellia And Emma Gu … Named High School All-American 2022-23 along with his current teammate at Navy Emma Gu … Won back-to-back PIAA3A state singles championships in 2022 and 2023 after finishing as the state singles runner-up in her sophomore season in 2021 … Was named Daily Local News Player of the Year in 2021, 2022 and 2023 … Won three consecutive Ches-Mont American League singles titles … Captured the district singles title in 2023 after finishing second in the district championship in 2022 … Led Unionville to runner-up finishes at the PIAA3A team championships in 2021 and 2023 … Was named Unionville MVP for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 school years.

Ji Soo Oh – 5-4 – Wesley Chapel, Fla./Saddlebrook Prep

Rated a three-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network…Played tennis at Saddlebrook Preparatory School…Won the Most Improved Award in 2021…Teammate of Air Force’s Maya Michalski while at Saddlebrook…Daughter of Myoung Sup Oh and Jung A Kim.

Vanessa Popescu – 5-5 – McLean, Va./McLean

Rated as a four-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network…Earned two all-around tennis team honors at McLean High School…Was named to the All-Region First Team for singles and doubles as a junior in 2023 and was also voted team MVP…Helped McLean win the Virginia 6D North Region team title in 2022…Took second place in state doubles in 2022 alongside Michelle Martinkov…Received the CAP Billy Mitchell Award and the CAP NCO of the Year Unit Award while at McLean.