Eastern Illinois University Athletics

2012-13:  Second Team All-OVC... followed her fine junior season with an outstanding senior campaign... led the team with a 12-4 singles mark, including a 7-3 record in OVC action... mostly saw action at either the No. 2 (7-4) or No. 3 (4-1) spot in the Panther lineup... went 9-4, and 4-2 in league play, in No. 1 doubles when teamed mostly with junior Janelle Prisner.

2011-12:  First Team All-OVC ... sported an 11-9 mark in singles play, going 11-8 at the No. 2 spot... tied Janelle Prisner for best league mark at 6-3... had a team-best nine-match win streak in singles play at one point in her junior season... finished 13-7 in doubles when teamed alongside fellow league honoree Prisner... that included a nice 7-2 mark in OVC contests.

2010-11:  Finished with a nice 5-4 mark in singles play, including a perfect 4-0 tally at No. 3 singles... went 1-1 when competing against league competition... earned a 3-5 mark in doubles, playing most at the top of the duo lineup alongside partner Cara Huck.

2009-10:  Went 9-7 in singles as a true freshman... saw play at both the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the lineup... earned 3-4 mark in OVC action... saw significant play in doubles, but only registered a 4-12 mark... although she did play at the No. 1 spot alongside Amanda Dibbs.

HS:  Merritt graduated from Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo. where she was part of a conference championship tennis team three times under coaches Tim Kaus and Drew Osbourne… as a freshman, she placed third in the state in singles and was on the All-Metro First Team… placed fourth in singles play at state her sophomore season… won the state championship in doubles as a junior, while her team finished in third place state-wise… was named the Sun Tribune ‘Girl Athlete of the Fall’ during her sophomore and senior seasons.

PERSONAL:  Majoring in journalism, with a minor in advertising... daughter of Michael & Mary Pat Whitley… finished third with the World Tennis Team alongside her partner in 2006… her No. 1 sports moment was winning the state doubles tournament with Suzanne Barth… a major influence on her sports career has been her parents, “because they are the reason I got started and they’ve always supported me”… the coach she most admires is Rex Haultain, “because he dedicates so much of his time to helping kids get better at tennis... and has taught me so many valuable life lessons”… her cousin, Amber Lemkau, played soccer at Morning Side College.

OFF THE COURT WITH MERRITT:  Was nicknamed ‘Mer’ by her teammates… chose to come to EIU “because I really liked the people and campus... plus I just knew it would be a good fit for me”… besides tennis, some of her other special talents include playing guitar, singing and writing songs… her favorite food is fettuccini alfredo, but she doesn’t care for asparagus… favorite musical group is Green River Ordinance… favorite actor is Channing Tatum while favorite female actor is Amanda Bynes… if she could switch places with someone for a day it would be Taylor Swift, “because I would love to perform in front of thousands of people”… since coming to EIU she has learned “to balance my time and not take things for granted”… has two cats named ‘Persian’ and ‘Frosty’… a few of her favorite hobbies are movies, music and tennis… advice she’d give to a younger athletes is “never give up and always work hard for what you want”… if she could bring one thing to EIU from her hometown of Kansas City it would be her best friend… a quote she lives by is “everything happens for a reason."