Wally Pendergrass
Staff Writer
While playing on the international tennis circuit, Trang Huynh knew that she wanted to come play college tennis in the United States. When Troy University offered her an athletic scholarship, she accepted and the results this season have been great for both Huynh and the whole women’s tennis team.
Huynh is from Vung Tau, Vietnam and started playing tennis at the age of eight. She started playing in the pro circuit of the International Tennis Federation in 2008.
Huynh, a sophomore, has compiled an impressive 14-2 record this season in singles play and has won seven matches in a row. If that wasn’t enough, Huynh and doubles partner sophomore Anja Cosovic are 14-2 and have won 11 straight matches.
Those results have helped Huynh receive three Sun Belt Female Tennis Athlete of the Week awards. She has earned two in a row for the past two weeks. Even with all the success on the court, Huynh is a very humble student athlete.
“I’m happy about how I’m doing this year, considering it’s my first year here,” Huynh said. “I hope that I can continue to improve my record.”
When asked how she felt about her doubles partner and why she has had so much success this season, Huynh said. “I think it’s because we got along so well. Communication is key in doubles.”
Huynh explained that a big factor of why the whole tennis team has bonded and become close is because of the strong international representation.
She elaborated on the struggle of feeling away from family and friends. Huynh talked about how being an international student added challenges to playing college sports.
“Yeah I think the first challenge for all of the international students is the language,” she said. “Then it’s hard being away from family and friends, but you quickly make new friends.”
Her goals for the rest of the season are to get Troy deep in the Sun Belt Conference Championships and earn a bid to the NCAA Regionals. While Huynh is still considering what she will do after her time at Troy, she does have a couple of plans.
“I am currently majoring in biology, with a plan to get a biomedical degree and go on to dental school,” she said.
Huynh also said that depending how her career goes she may go back and try to play tennis one or two years after graduating.
The women’s tennis team has won the past seven matches and obviously these victories have been morale boosters for the athletes.
“Trang and some of the other girls have really been confident these last few matches,” head coach Rawaia Elsisi said. “They really go out knowing they are going to dominate on the court so I feel good about it.”
Elsisi said Huyn and Cosovic are “on fire.”
Trang and the rest of her Trojan teammates have three matches this week. The team plays against Samford on April 9, UAB on April 12, and ULM on April 13. All of the matches will be taking place in Birmingham. The Trojans will leave next Wednesday, April 16, for New Orleans to compete in the Sun Belt Conference Championships.
