HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University head women’s tennis coach John Mercer announced today the signing of a National Letter of Intent by Kara Kucin of Belleair, Fla.

Kucin, a 5-foot-7, right-handed player from Clearwater Central Catholic High School, is rated as the No. 87 senior prospect, according to Tennis Recruiting Network.

“Kara is a tremendous athlete who has had success in the junior nationals,” Mercer said. “We feel she will be an asset to our program.”

Kucin played the No. 1 as a freshman through her junior year and has posted a 53-31 overall record. She was a district champion in both 2007 and 2008, and was named the St. Petersburg Times School Player of the Year in 2007. Kucin was a 2006 district finalist and a state quarterfinalist in both 2007 and 2008.

“She received recruiting interest from New Mexico, Maryland, Florida State, North Carolina-Greensboro, and Central Florida,” Mercer added. “We are very excited she chose Marshall.”

Kucin will begin Mercer’s eighth recruiting class as head coach of the Thundering Herd.