North Carolina State University Athletics
Pictured from left to right: Arina Varaksina, Amelie Smejkalova, Georgia Cranford
Women’s Tennis Signs Trio Ahead of 2026 Spring Campaign
1/8/2026 5:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State women's tennis team has signed three players, two freshmen and one sophomore transfer, for the upcoming 2026 spring season, as announced by head coach Simon Earnshaw on Thursday. Joining the Wolfpack in January will be freshmen Arina Varaksina and Georgia Cranford, alongside transfer Amelie Smejkalova.
"This is by far the largest mid-year recruiting class we've had," said Earnshaw. "It's one that's going to be paramount for us to continue to challenge nationally in the constantly evolving landscape of college tennis and athletics. There's going to be a steep learning curve initially but I fully expect Amelie, Arina and Georgia to be big contributors and impact our program both in the upcoming season and long term. They each share the traits, ambition and excitement for our program that we look for in players to be successful and it's a great boost for the team on the eve of the 2026 season. Go Pack!!"
Arina Varaksina | Freshman | Moscow, Russia
Varaksina enters her collegiate career with the Wolfpack from Moscow, Russia. The incoming freshman comes to Raleigh having been ranked as high as 910 in the WTA Singles world rankings and owning a 26-16 career record in ITA Pro Circuit events. On the ITF Junior Circuit, she has reached a career-high ranking of 133 and collected five ITF titles, including three singles and two doubles championships.
Varaksina has enjoyed extensive success on the international junior circuit, earning singles titles at J60 Giza and J60 Dakahlia in Egypt during the 2023 season, along with doubles crowns at J100 Cairo and J60 Dakahlia. Earlier in her career, she also captured the singles title at J5 St. Petersburg, Russia in 2021.
Currently residing in Jakarta, Indonesia with her family, Varaksina arrives at NC State eager to continue developing her game while contributing to the Wolfpack's success.
"I hope my participation in the program will be beneficial for NC State women's tennis and can help me to bring my game to a higher level," Varaksina said.
Georgia Cranford | Freshman | Scottsdale, Ariz.
Cranford joins the Pack as a freshman from Scottsdale, Arizona, bringing a strong junior tennis background to Raleigh. She reached a career-best ranking of No. 29 by TennisRecruiting.net, earned five-star status in the class of 2025, and finished as the No. 1-ranked player in the state of Arizona.
Her competitive success includes winning the 2024 high school state championship and capturing the doubles title at the 2023 USTA Winter Nationals 16s. Cranford was also a semifinalist at the USTA 18s National Doubles Championships and the USTA 18s National Hard Courts in San Diego, while earning the USTA Southwest Junior Excellence Award.
Earlier in her junior career, Cranford claimed titles at the Southwest Closed Singles event and Eddie Herr 16s Doubles tournament in 2022, while finishing as the Orange Bowl 16s Doubles runner-up.
Off the court, Cranford graduated Summa Cum Laude from Notre Dame Preparatory in Scottsdale and received the Katharine Drexel Leadership Award.
"I chose NC State because the program represents excellence on every level," Cranford said. "It's one of the top women's tennis programs in the country, and I'm truly excited to be part of a championship-winning culture. Coach Simon and Coach Dave are incredible leaders who develop both athletes and people, and I'm thrilled to join the Pack and contribute to something special."
Amelie Smejkalova | Sophomore | Zlín, Czechia
Smejkalova comes to Raleigh as a transfer sophomore after competing at Clemson during the 2024-25 season and the fall of 2025. The Zlín, Czechia native posted a 17-16 singles record across dual matches and tournaments, primarily competing at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions. In doubles play, she recorded a 21-11 record while playing exclusively at the top spot.
She has reached ITF junior rankings as high as No. 30 in the world. Prior to her collegiate career, Smejkalova also peaked at No. 773 in the WTA singles rankings and No. 1,022 in doubles.
Smejkalova brings extensive international experience, having won two ITF Pro Circuit W15 titles, including the singles championship at W15 Monastir, Tunisia in 2024 and the doubles title at W15 Monastir in 2023. As a junior, she climbed as high as No. 30 in the ITF junior world rankings and collected nine junior doubles titles, highlighted by a J300 Cairo championship in 2023. She also earned doubles titles at J1 Prague, Czechia; J1 Casablanca, Morocco; and J2 Castricum, Netherlands in 2022.
A Czechia National Junior Champion in both singles and doubles, Smejkalova is one of four siblings and enjoys golf, reading, writing, and spending time with her close friends and family.
"Find joy," Smejkalova said when asked why she came to NC State. "When I came to NC State, I found it."
The Wolfpack are putting the finishing touches on preparations for the 2026 dual season, with all three newcomers expected to make an immediate impact. NC State has advanced to six consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and will look to continue that success this spring.
For the latest updates on NC State women's tennis, follow @packwtennis on social media.
"This is by far the largest mid-year recruiting class we've had," said Earnshaw. "It's one that's going to be paramount for us to continue to challenge nationally in the constantly evolving landscape of college tennis and athletics. There's going to be a steep learning curve initially but I fully expect Amelie, Arina and Georgia to be big contributors and impact our program both in the upcoming season and long term. They each share the traits, ambition and excitement for our program that we look for in players to be successful and it's a great boost for the team on the eve of the 2026 season. Go Pack!!"
Arina Varaksina | Freshman | Moscow, Russia
Varaksina enters her collegiate career with the Wolfpack from Moscow, Russia. The incoming freshman comes to Raleigh having been ranked as high as 910 in the WTA Singles world rankings and owning a 26-16 career record in ITA Pro Circuit events. On the ITF Junior Circuit, she has reached a career-high ranking of 133 and collected five ITF titles, including three singles and two doubles championships.
Varaksina has enjoyed extensive success on the international junior circuit, earning singles titles at J60 Giza and J60 Dakahlia in Egypt during the 2023 season, along with doubles crowns at J100 Cairo and J60 Dakahlia. Earlier in her career, she also captured the singles title at J5 St. Petersburg, Russia in 2021.
Currently residing in Jakarta, Indonesia with her family, Varaksina arrives at NC State eager to continue developing her game while contributing to the Wolfpack's success.
"I hope my participation in the program will be beneficial for NC State women's tennis and can help me to bring my game to a higher level," Varaksina said.
Georgia Cranford | Freshman | Scottsdale, Ariz.
Cranford joins the Pack as a freshman from Scottsdale, Arizona, bringing a strong junior tennis background to Raleigh. She reached a career-best ranking of No. 29 by TennisRecruiting.net, earned five-star status in the class of 2025, and finished as the No. 1-ranked player in the state of Arizona.
Her competitive success includes winning the 2024 high school state championship and capturing the doubles title at the 2023 USTA Winter Nationals 16s. Cranford was also a semifinalist at the USTA 18s National Doubles Championships and the USTA 18s National Hard Courts in San Diego, while earning the USTA Southwest Junior Excellence Award.
Earlier in her junior career, Cranford claimed titles at the Southwest Closed Singles event and Eddie Herr 16s Doubles tournament in 2022, while finishing as the Orange Bowl 16s Doubles runner-up.
Off the court, Cranford graduated Summa Cum Laude from Notre Dame Preparatory in Scottsdale and received the Katharine Drexel Leadership Award.
"I chose NC State because the program represents excellence on every level," Cranford said. "It's one of the top women's tennis programs in the country, and I'm truly excited to be part of a championship-winning culture. Coach Simon and Coach Dave are incredible leaders who develop both athletes and people, and I'm thrilled to join the Pack and contribute to something special."
Amelie Smejkalova | Sophomore | Zlín, Czechia
Smejkalova comes to Raleigh as a transfer sophomore after competing at Clemson during the 2024-25 season and the fall of 2025. The Zlín, Czechia native posted a 17-16 singles record across dual matches and tournaments, primarily competing at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions. In doubles play, she recorded a 21-11 record while playing exclusively at the top spot.
She has reached ITF junior rankings as high as No. 30 in the world. Prior to her collegiate career, Smejkalova also peaked at No. 773 in the WTA singles rankings and No. 1,022 in doubles.
Smejkalova brings extensive international experience, having won two ITF Pro Circuit W15 titles, including the singles championship at W15 Monastir, Tunisia in 2024 and the doubles title at W15 Monastir in 2023. As a junior, she climbed as high as No. 30 in the ITF junior world rankings and collected nine junior doubles titles, highlighted by a J300 Cairo championship in 2023. She also earned doubles titles at J1 Prague, Czechia; J1 Casablanca, Morocco; and J2 Castricum, Netherlands in 2022.
A Czechia National Junior Champion in both singles and doubles, Smejkalova is one of four siblings and enjoys golf, reading, writing, and spending time with her close friends and family.
"Find joy," Smejkalova said when asked why she came to NC State. "When I came to NC State, I found it."
The Wolfpack are putting the finishing touches on preparations for the 2026 dual season, with all three newcomers expected to make an immediate impact. NC State has advanced to six consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and will look to continue that success this spring.
For the latest updates on NC State women's tennis, follow @packwtennis on social media.
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