TEANECK, N.J. - FDU men's and women's tennis head coach Jeff Brandes announced Saturday the arrival of seven newcomers to the Knights' program for the 2022-23 season. Joining the Knights are five women and two men in Anastasia Lim, Valentina Torres da Silva, Madeleine Graber, Margherita Viglietti, Calista Daligawer, Gryffin Minor and Jorge Alonso-Cortes.

From Kazan, Russia, Lim joins the Knights after training in Thailand from 2013-15, playing in tournaments of the Thai Junior Tennis Tour and reached a Top 10 ranking for her age group at the time.  In 2015-2016, Lim played a number of successful tournaments within the Russian Tennis Tour, as well as the Tennis Europe Junior Tour. In 2015, Lim was a member of the Russian national team in the girls U-13 category. In January 2016, she was ranked seventh in the Russian Junior Rankings (U-13). 

In January 2018, Lim took part in a tournament within the Tennis Europe Junior Tour, the Ryazan Kremlin Cup, and advanced past the qualifying rounds and became a finalist in the main draw of the event. Since January 2019, Lim has been a member of the Republic of Tatarstan National Team. In November of that year, as part of the European tour, she participated in the TE Arkada Cup in Ufa, Russia where she was a semifinalist in the tournament.
 
Moving ahead to January 2020, Lim achieved a Russian Junior Tennis Tour ranking of 20 - an incredible milestone. Also that year, she reached the quarterfinals at the Balashiha ITF J4 and was a main draw participant in the ITF J3 in Almetievsk. Playing doubles in 2021, Lim was a semifinalist at the Telavi Cup ITF J5 and finished as a quarterfinalist in the Tbilisi Cup ITF J4 and Samara ITF J4. She reached the quarterfinals in singles at Telavi Cup ITF J5, Tbilisi Cup ITF J5 and Tbilisi Cup ITF J4. At the start of 2022, Lim had an ITF Junior ranking of 883.  In addition to her native Russia, Lim has played tournaments in Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Georgia. Away from tennis, her hobbies include singing and playing the piano.    

"Coach Jeff and I have been following Anastasia's progress over the past several years and we are very excited she will be joining our team," remarked assistant coach Paul Caceres.    
 
Torres da Silva comes to Teaneck from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, joining returner Namie Isago who hails from Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Currently Torres da Silva trains at Tennis Route, in Rio de Janeiro and previously trained at Acioly Tennis Team which was an academy in Rio. She also has spent a year in the United States, training at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Fla. Torres da Silva won several state tournaments when she played in the U14 and U16 age categories and excelled at national events, winning a J1 singles title and a JA doubles title.  She reached the quarterfinals in singles competetion at a J5 in Blumenau, J5 in Curitiba and a JA in Criciuma.     
 
On the international stage when she played in the U-16 age category she reached the semifinal of the J1 Banana Bowl in Rio two years in a row. Additionally, she reached the quarterfinals at an ITF J3 in Asuncion, Paraguay and a J4 in Tarija, Bolivia. Also seeing success in the doubles game, she won a J2 South American tournament doubles title, an ITF J5 doubles title in Salvador Brazil and the Pascuas Bowl (grade 2) doubles title in Asuncion, Paraguay.  She was a semifinalist at a J3 in Cochabamba, Bolivia and J5 tournaments in Santa Cruz Bolivia and Serra Negra, Brazil. Torres da Silva reached the quarterfinals in doubles at J3 tournaments in Mendoza, Argentina and Asuncion, Paraguay.  She also made the quarterfinals at two J5 tournaments in Santa Tecla, El Salvador and a J5 tournament in Lambare, Paraguay in doubles. She reached a career-high ITF Junior Ranking of 745 and, since 2016, has amassed over 156 singles victories and 44 doubles wins over her junior career.
 
"Valentina enjoys competing and knows the importance of staying strong mentally," said Caceres. "She fights hard for every single point no matter what the score is."
  
Coming to FDU by way of Gerzensee, Switzerland, Graber arrives on the banks of the Hackensack after training at Tennis Academy CIS Heimberg, located in Heimberg, Switzerland.  She gained entry to compete the Swiss Championships in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020.  On the Tennis Europe Tour in 2017, Graber advanced to the quaterfinal in Oberentfelden. Over the course of her junior tennis career, Graber has accumulated over 34 wins in singles matches.

"Madeleine has a lot of effortless power, her game is built for college tennis," remarked Brandes. "We are thrilled she chose FDU and can't wait to see her on the courts."
 
Viglietti, a native of Bergeggi, Italy, trained at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca, Spain. In 2019 she qualified for the main draw in the San Marino Junior Cup. Additionally, she won a match in the Women's Open singles draw at the Intersemanal Absolut Badalona TC in 2021. Earlier this year, Viglietti had a good win in the qualifying draw of an ITF/Tennis Europe tournament in Manacor, Spain. 

"We are extremely excited about the addition of Margherita to our team," said Brandes. "Margherita is a talented player with a love for the game.  She is a tireless worker and is serious about the development of her tennis."
 
A local product from Fair Lawn, N.J., Daligawer saw varsity action all four years at Fair Lawn High School, including three years at the top  singles position.  In 2018 when Daligawer was a freshman, she was named Second Team All-Big North in the Independence Division.  In 2019, 2020 and 2021, Daligawer was named First Team All-Big North Conference (Independence Division).  From 2018-2022 Daligawer compiled 30 victories in singles including a 6-1, 6-2 win at the 2021 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Girls Tennis Singles Tournament. 

"Calista is very motivated and committed to improving her game," Caceres said.  "Calista's experience being part of a tennis team, working towards achieving shared goals is a huge plus.  It's great to get top local talent."
 
Hailing from Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada, Minor was the No. 1 ranked Junior Boys Tennis player in Nova Scotia.  This past May, Minor reached a career high ITF Junior ranking of 1030. In 2019, he participated in the U-18 Nationals and was a U-16 Finalist of Atlantic's National Qualifier in 2020. Last year, State was a Team Nova Scotia player at the Canadian Games in 2021.  and recently was a semifinalist of an ITF J5 tournament in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Other highlights of Gryffin's junior career include winning the singles crown at the Atlantic Tennis Center Men's Open and winning the Junior Atlantic Championship Boys U-18 singles tournament.   
 
Minor has also had success in doubles as well, winning a doubles championship at an ITF J5 tournament after four-straight wins in a row.  Minor was also a Canadian Junior Nationals boys doubles quarterfinalist.   
 
Minor was a recipient of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Bronze Level in 2018-19. Despite starting tennis later than a lot of other junior players, since 2015 minor has won 236 singles matches and 45 doubles matches.  He played competitive basketball and hockey at a high level for many years before turning his attention to tennis.   

"Gryffin possesses many qualities that we look for in a recruit: he is determined, motivated, perseverant, and focused," remarked Caceres.  "Gryffin understands the importance of training hard, with high intensity and focus every time he steps on the court.  Tennis has taught him about the importance of good sportsmanship, how to lose gracefully, and to never give up.  Gryffin's approach has resulted in improvements to his game and results.  With his continued commitment and hard work, I believe Gryffin will continue to improve even more over time."
  
Originally from Majadahonda, Spain, Alonso-Cortes started playing tennis when he was just four years old. He has trained at the Sports Center Manolo Santana in Madrid until 2018 and Jorge played on a tennis team at the center that competed with the best teams in Madrid, winning numerous local and national tournaments.  For the last four years Jorge has been training at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy.
 
Alonso-Cortes has participated in numerous local, national and international tournaments which include: Marca Jóvenes Promesas, Madrid Championships, Spartan Tour, Dutch Bowl and several ITF Junior tournaments (J3, J4 and J5).  During his junior career he has won 130 singles matches. 
 
"As soon as we spoke, Jorge's passion for the game and desire to improve was evident.  He is super fit, brings an ultimate warrior mentality and will be a great addition to our team,"  Brandes said.

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