Women's Tennis Q&A: Ashley Lahey

Ashley Lahey of the Pepperdine women's tennis team is coming off of her third straight championship win. We discuss her victories, her tournament experiences and her key to success on and off the court:

Q: You won the ITA All-American Championship on Sunday. What was that experience like for you?

A: It was really cool. I think it's just fun to compete, especially without playing for so long since I was on-and-off injured and not really able to put together really good training blocks. I took some time off this summer to let my body heal, and when I came back, I was healthy and also just really happy to be back on court and excited to play. I've been training with passion and kind of been re-falling in love with the game, so the winning is kind of just the icing on the cake of a really great experience of competing at a high level and enjoying being there and having the honor of playing these tournaments.

Q: You're having a great start to the season since you also won the Oracle/ITA Masters championship and the Women's Collegiate Invitational championship. How does it feel to have won three tournaments in a row?

A: It's kind of crazy because the last two years I've played tons of tournaments all summer, and I've come back kind of burnt out and injured. I haven't even been able to compete in these tournaments because I haven't been healthy, so to be able to compete is great by itself. To be able to compete at a high level and have some success is even better.

Q: All three championships featured some of the nation's best players. What was your experience like playing against them?

A: I know I can beat these players. It's just a matter of staying completely focused. I think it's a good motivation too, when you're playing tough matches. You know you can't lose focus or let them in the match because they are so good that they'll come back. Having to keep going throughout the match, even when I was up by a significant amount, I had to keep staying engaged and play the right way. It's really good for my game because I know they next level I want to play at is going to be these level of players and even higher. It's good to be able to compete against such awesome competitors.

Q: What is your mindset during a championship?

A: Usually, a lot of stress, anxiety, freaking out, hoping that I don't lose, those kinds of things. Lately, it's just been enjoying every second of competing, just loving being out there, and not so much because I'm winning, but because of the new perspective I've gotten from being able to take time off and do other things and redefine myself outside of tennis. Now that I've come back, I'm playing because I'm passionate about it, enthusiastic about it, and because I love it, not because I feel like I need to be doing well or proving myself in any way. I don't get nervous before the matches anymore, I'm having fun with it.

Q: You've had three successful years at Pepperdine so far. How do you want to go out your senior year?

A: I want to compete in a way that Pepperdine would be proud of. I think we stand for some pretty incredible ideals here at Pepperdine: purpose, service, and leadership. I want to compete with class, with dignity, with grace, with humility, and show what this university is all about. I don't care whether I win or lose any match. I want to be the same way every time, and show people what it's like to love what they're doing and to do it in a way that is glorifying God.

Q: You've been a Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete over the past three years. How do you balance being successful on the court and in the classroom?

A: I think it comes from loving what I'm doing. I love my major; I'm sports med, pre-med. Science, to me, is absolutely incredible. It gives me such an amazing look at the microscopic level of how everything is working. It proves how small everything we're doing is compared to God's greatness and how he created us and everything we can do is nothing in comparison. It's just about loving everything that I'm doing. I love science. I love tennis. It's just enjoying the opportunities I get. It's like, "Wow, I get to spend every day doing something productive that I also love," and being grateful for that opportunity.

Q: What has been your favorite memory during your time at Pepperdine so far?

A: I've had a lot of great memories here. My baptism was definitely up there; it's probably my favorite moment, and also going to Kenya. I wasn't a Christian before I came to Pepperdine. I think just learning about myself, outside of being a tennis player and a student, as a Child of God and a server of my community has given me an identity outside of everything I do. Now everything I do no longer defines who I am; I'm doing it because I love it.

Q: What has been the best advice you've received?

A: I've received so much good advice. I think to be grateful for everything. I think that's a very simple thing to say to someone, but it's also powerful. It's very easy, and you see a lot of students who take what they have for granted, but it's about taking a step back outside of yourself and trying to be happy with what we have. With that gratefulness is the responsibility of putting everything we have into what we're doing because we've been given so much.

Players Mentioned

Ashley Lahey

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