FALL ATHLETES Vy Hoang

Ursuline girls tennis player Vy Hoang finally made the state tournament in 2018. After three years of falling short, the Ursuline senior and teammate Lexi Tsudis qualified for the doubles tournament in October.

Hoang and Tsudis were singles players for their first three years of high school. But the two were doubles partners in the past. The coaching staff recommended the duo reunite and the gamble paid off.

Hoang and her partner were eliminated in the first round of the Division II state tournament.

“I was very grateful to make it,” Hoang said. “Senior year with wonderful coaches, a really great teammate and a doubles partner. She really made all the difference. We worked well together.”

The Ursuline duo was seeded in the sectional and district tournaments. They beat Warren JFK’s Sophia Zamarelli and Caitlin Condoleon 6-3, 6-4, in the sectional final at Boardman Tennis Center. A week later, the Irish were knocked out by Hathaway Brown’s Isabella Daverio and Rebecca Wolf — the district winners — 6-0, 6-0.

The Irish senior hasn’t made a decision on college, but wants to continue playing tennis.

She wants to get a medical degree, and would prefer to attend a Division III school to balance the academics and athletics. But if the option isn’t available, she will attend Youngstown State.

If Hoang attends YSU, she plans to create a tennis club that ranges from beginners to veteran players.

“I definitely think there would be interest for a club or intramural women’s tennis team [at YSU],” Hoang said. “I’ve found that a lot of physical education and health classes have sessions out on the tennis courts, and I think that students would be willing to join.

“Doesn’t matter your level, just to have the fun experience in kind of a stress-free environment. I think that would be something a lot of students would be looking for.”

— Dan Hiner, The Vindicator