Augustana College

High school standouts Kilee Kading of Sioux Falls, S.D. and Gabrielle Kachena of Yankton, S.D. have signed national letters of intent to attend Augustana College and play for the women's tennis team, Viking head coach Marc Kurtz announced today.

Kading was a four-year starter and letterwinner at Washington High School. As a captain in her senior season, Kading went 13-6 in singles play and placed sixth in No. 1 singles at the state tournament, where the Warriors finished sixth in the team standings. As a junior, Kading went 8-8 in regular season play for the Warriors, who finished sixth in the state tournament.

Kading went 20-2 as a sophomore and was the runner-up in No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles at the state tournament. She also earned All-Greater Dakota Conference honors as a sophomore. Kading started her varsity career with a 16-5 record and was the runner-up in No. 6 singles at the state tournament. She also was a two-year starter and four-year letterwinner for the Warriors' basketball team that won the 2008 Class AA state championship. 

"Kilee is a great athlete who has not scratched her tennis potential yet," Kurtz said. "She has played No. 1 singles for Washington the past two years and I am looking forward to coaching her at Augustana."

Kachena was a four-year starter and letterwinner at Yankton High School. She went 24-10 in singles as a senior for a Gazelle team that finished 20-5 and finished fifth at the state tournament. As a junior, Kachena finished 9-15 as the Gazelles took 10th place at the state tournament. Kachena went 16-5 as a sophomore to earn Athlete of the Year honors. Kachena went 17-11 as a freshman and helped the Gazelles to a 10th place finish at the state tournament.

"Gabbie is a strong singles player who has played No. 1 singles for three years at Yankton High School," Kurtz said. "I feel with some good competition and coaching that she can make a big impact on our team here at Augustana."

With the addition of Kading and Kachena, the Viking recruiting class stands at four. They join a class that also includes Hannah Gebauer of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Michelle Wadas of Ft. Collins, Colo., both of whom signed with the Vikings in April.