DAYTON – The University of Dayton women's tennis head coach Erica Echko has announced the hiring of Natasha Alekhova as an assistant coach. Alekhova has coached at the junior, collegiate and professional levels and is a certified instructor at the United States Professional Tennis Association's Professional Level II.

"We are thrilled to welcome Natasha Alekhova to the UD tennis program as our new assistant coach.  She brings over 20 years of experience in competitive tennis instruction, and an impressive background playing at University of New Mexico," said Echko. "Her positive energy and competitive spirit are contagious and she will have an immediate impact on our team culture."

Alekhova has playing experience at the national and international level, winning Junior Nationals in Doubles in Russia. She was also a National Singles Championship semi-finalist.

As a collegiate athlete, she played at the University of New Mexico and at Armstrong State. As part of the Lobos, Alekhova was a two-time member of the Mountain West All-Conference team and was ranked No. 88 in her final Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles ranking. In 1999, she was the ITA Rolex Regional Singles Co-Champion and won ITA National Singles in 2001. Additionally, she was the New Mexico Open Singles and Doubles Champion in 2000 and 2001.

At Armstrong State, then a Division II program, she was an NCAA Finalist and was ranked No. 1 in the country. She also assisted the coaching staff with practice planning and program logistics.

After earning her Master of Education in 2003, Alekhova began coaching in the Dayton area and in Russia. She is also the Vice President and a College Placement Consultant for the Siberian Territorial Association Program of Tennis, helping Eastern European tennis players with United States college recruitment process.