University of Arkansas-Fort Smith tennis coach Bob Huckelbury recently bolstered the lineup for next season’s Lady Lions team with the signing of a pair of recruits from the Lone Star State. 

The sixth-year coach signed Whitney Hobson of Flower Mound, Texas, and Amy Belanger of Austin, Texas. The duo will add even more depth to a Lady Lions team that was nine-players strong this past spring and had no seniors on the roster.

Hobson was rated a one-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network and was ranked No. 43 in the Girls 18 Singles Division of the Texas Super Champ system.

During her prep career at Marcus High School, Hobson compiled a 41-14 record in singles, 71-24 record in doubles and 61-14 record in mixed doubles. She received the Newcomer of the Year Award as a freshman (2006), the Hustle Award as sophomore (2007), the Most-Improved Player Award as a junior (2008) and the Athlete of the Month Award as a senior (November, 2009).

Hobson, who compiled a 4.0 grade-point average, was the District Sophomore of the Year (2008) and District MVP as a senior (2009-10).

Belanger was rated a two-star recruit by the Tennis Recruiting Network and was ranked No. 47 in the Girls 18 Singles Division of the Texas Super Champ system.

During her prep career at Bowie High School, Belanger played No. 1 singles and doubles for four seasons. She was Bowie’s Player of the Year (2008-09) and Bowie’s MVP (2006-09). She was a three-time 5A Region Tournament qualifier and advanced to the semifinals in 2008. She was a three-time 5A District Tournament finalist (2008, 2009, 2010).