TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona women's tennis head coach Ryan Stotland has announced the addition of three standout international recruits. Ciara Moore (United Kingdom) for the 2025-26 roster. And Sophia Christodoulou (United Kingdom) and Sara Mlenská (Czech Republic) for the 2026-27 roster.
Moore joins the Wildcats from Epsom College in Leatherhead, England, where she built an impressive tennis résumé highlighted by a UTR of 9.90 and a current WTA ranking of No. 1224. Known for her powerful game and competitive edge, Moore brings international experience and a strong sense of discipline from her background as a multi-sport athlete.
"Ciara is a wonderful person from a wonderful family", Stotland said. "What stood out about her is her competitiveness. She will be one that will have relentless commitment to learning how to win. Ciara chose tennis over being an elite athlete in field hockey where she was a phenom so it shows her true dedication to tennis. Ciara will add an amazing competitor, talent and a lot of wins to our program. She's the perfect fit for Arizona because her personality is fun, competitive and she fits right in with the team. She has a wonderful personality that can make anyone feel welcome. I'm most excited about seeing how much Ciara learns to Bear Down. She's going to be a fun one to watch and will grow immensely as an Arizona Wildcat. I cannot wait to see her growth. She's going to achieve a lot in her career, and she's one to look out for."
"I chose Arizona not only because of the amazing campus and location, but the people are so welcoming and friendly, and I know that's something I want to be surrounded by to enjoy my time at college," Moore said. "As well as this, the tennis program is great, and the conditioning seems tough, which is good because I know that's something I want, to be able to push myself in order to improve. I had a gut feeling for Arizona as soon as I spent my few days there and felt I was already a student-athlete, so I was gutted to leave. I also feel that at Arizona I can be the best version of myself with the strong team and support that are there."
Christodoulou joins the Wildcats from Chancellor's School in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, bringing a strong international résumé highlighted by an ITF junior world ranking of No. 412 and a UTR of 9.77. Over the past year, she captured two J30 and two J60 singles titles as well as three J30 and one J60 doubles championships. She also claimed three British Tour wins in 2024, solidifying her reputation as one of Britain's most consistent young competitors. A dynamic presence both on and off the court, Christodoulou is known for her dedication, high energy and growth mindset, qualities that align perfectly with Arizona's culture of excellence.
"Her personality was the first thing that stood out", Stotland said. "She has a knack for improvement, and growth is something she will strive for. Sophia has a fun personality along with a great family. We know how lucky we are that she chose us because she has high goals and is clearly a dedicated individual. Sophia has it all, and I know she is ready to be challenged. We're ready to see her make massive strides as an Arizona Wildcat. She brings complete dedication to what it's like to be a pro and will add an amazing amount of talent on and off the court. Her singles and doubles success shows why she's a champion over and over again. You're going to see Sophia's name pop up a lot more before she even gets to Arizona because she has the capability to do big things, and we know she will. Her personality is perfect. She's fun, hardworking and driven. She came in and met the team and fit right in. She's going to make this team even better, and we cannot wait for her arrival."
"The atmosphere was really inspiring with lots of high energy", Christodoulou said. "The team was so welcoming, and I'm really looking forward to being one of the Cats!"
Mlenská joins the Wildcats from the English-German Business School Satalice in Prague, where she trained at the National Training Center Sparta Praha, one of the Czech Republic's most competitive junior programs. She holds a career-high ITF junior ranking of No. 330 and a UTR of 9.88, and has been ranked as high as No. 6 nationally in her age group. Mlenská has captured numerous Czech junior titles, including a J30 championship and a finals appearance at the J100, while competing across Europe in ITF Grade 2 through 5 events.
"Sara is one that caught my eye", Stotland said. "Her ability to hit a tennis ball is incredible. I was not in Prague to see her initially, but when I saw her practice, I had to go watch her a few times because I loved her tennis game and knew she had a special ability. It was fate that I was able to be at those courts at the right time and introduce myself and learn about what a great person she is on top of her talent and what a great family she comes from. She is the total package of what we want here at Arizona. Sara will add a high tennis IQ with tremendous groundstrokes. She has a knack for playing developed points, and her maturity is going to be seen right away. Sara does everything and commits herself, from teaching herself English to working her tail off on and off the court. She is dedicated, and the term Bear Down will shine through her at all times. From day one, she was committed after our first talk and never relented. She loves Arizona, and I can't wait to see that passion every day. Her tennis game will speak for itself, her fun personality will shine through and I think you'll see a person who was born to be an Arizona Wildcat."
"I chose the University of Arizona because of the incredible team culture, the strong academic programs and the opportunity to grow as both a player and a person under great coaches," Mlenská said. "After visiting, I fell in love with this place and said to myself, 'This is the place I would make my second home.'"
Outside of tennis, Mlenská has represented the Czech Republic in national junior competitions and enjoys traveling and staying active through other sports.
"This is an incredibly exciting class for Arizona women's tennis", Stotland said. "Sophia, Sara and Ciara each bring something special. Their personalities, competitiveness and passion for growth make them perfect fits for our culture. They represent what it means to Bear Down, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for this group."
