Kiara Embrey '17 Recruiting Profile

I  was introduced to tennis at the age of three and played for two years.  Following this period, I became interested in other sports, such as soccer, volleyball and basketball and realized physical contact sports weren't for me. When I was twelve I started playing tennis again in a group setting.  Subsequently, upon starting high school, I set my sights upon making the girls tennis team.  I  made Junior Varsity and elevated my game to  become a consistent player. In my sophomore year, I was accepted onto the varsity team and attained a private coach, who was dedicated to making me a better player. Even though I have changed coaches since then, the attitude of making every practice your best practice and playing like you’re in a match has helped me tame nervousness in tournaments and league matches.  Playing plenty of matches helped me get more comfortable and play my very best knowing that I've practiced those same strokes for hours prior.

   Throughout the years I've learned many lessons on the court that have enabled me to deal with everyday situations in life.  When I was a lower class-men, on occasion I would get really frustrated in matches, particularly if I lost. But I soon learned that remaining frustrated  was unproductive and it retracted me from focusing on what or where I needed to improve. After my sophomore season, I made a commitment to myself to be calm and steady during matches and view every situation as a learning experience.  From this juncture, I started to win more often and really enjoy the game of tennis. I carried this lesson into my life as well; being easy-going makes your life much happier and enjoyable when you don't let things get to you. A quote that helped me learn this lesson is " just play the ball, not the person". When I follow this advice, I am focused and more successful.

   An additional characteristic that I learned about myself would be perseverance. There are numerous frustrating times in learning the game of tennis. Once I got through those times it made the game easier to learn knowing that I will catch on fast, and the initial awkwardness of learning a new stroke or form would soon fade away.

   I will bring my work ethic, dedication and desire for excellence to your team and your school.  Thank you for your consideration!