Butler women's tennis and head coach Cassie Shultz have announced the addition of two future Bulldogs as Clare Schaefer and Laurel Slechter made it official on NCAA National Signing Day.
 
Both Schaefer and Slechter will begin their respective Butler careers with the 2026-27 season.
 
"I'm excited for this recruiting class as they each bring unique qualities that will have positive contributions to our team," said Shultz. "I look forward to watching them grow as college student-athletes. Both have great ability to contribute in doubles and singles, and they both possess strong character."
 
Schaefer will arrive at Butler from Whitefish Bay, Wis. She won the 2024 Wisconsin D1 singles state championship. She is a four-year letterwinner and academic Merit Award recipient at Whitefish Bay High School. She also represents the Paley Tennis Center in competition. Her older sister, Carolyn, is currently a women's tennis student-athlete at BIG EAST rival Georgetown.
 
"Clare has such a fun, competitive spirit," said Shultz. "She fights for every point and has proven to be successful by pure grit and unrelenting effort. She also anticipates her opponent's next move very well in singles and doubles, showcasing her high tennis IQ."
 
Slechter is a three-time state finalist and three-time All-State honoree from Oldham County High School in La Grange, Ky. She led Oldham County to a regional championship as the Team MVP. Academically, she is a member of National Honor Society and a four-time Academic All-State selection.
 
"Laurel is an incredible athlete and extremely coachable," said Shultz. "She has great work ethic and problem-solving skills that have helped her make incredible gains in her game. Her quick hands and efficient footwork will ease her transition to BIG EAST play."
 
The 2025-26 edition of the Bulldogs opens the spring dual match portion of their schedule in January.