Ambassadors

To maintain the positive cycle of support for British juniors considering their options, we have enlisted the support of Tennis Smart ambassadors to help with your decision making. Successful former NCAA Division I student-athletes placed by Tennis Smart and mentored throughout their college career, the ambassadors are great sounding boards for juniors making these difficult decisions. Fresh off their college tennis experience, they can give you honest insight into what the experience is truly all about.

Our ambassadors will be at a variety of tournaments throughout the year and also offering in-home visits to chat about their experiences as Tennis Smart players and American university student-athletes.

Scotland

Emma Devine

Emma Devine

University of Oklahoma, Norman, Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations, 2016.

College Career Highlights:

  • Ranked in singles.
  • Captain.
  • Helping team to 16 in the nation.

Favorite Collegiate Moment:

  • Being captain.
  • Being at 16 in the nation as a team in my second year.

Best memory:

  • Winning 11 matches in a row my senior yr.

Andy Quirk

B.A. - History M.A. - International Commerce/Development (December, 2017).

College Highlights:

  • MVP, Spring 2013.
  • Team Captain 2015/16.
  • Clinching any match was always the best feeling.

Academic:

  • Named Student of the Year, 2015.

Memorable Moment:

  • Received a competitive research grant from the University of South Carolina called the Magellan Scholar award, and being named History Student of the Year, 2014-2015.

South East

Olivia Smith

Olivia Smith

Texas Christian University (TCU), Fort Worth, Texas Bachelor of Science in Economics; Minor in Business, 2013.

College career:

  • ITA Doubles Ranking: 37 (2012-2013).
  • ITA Singles Ranking: 50 (2012-2013).
  • ITA Regional Doubles Champion, 2011.

Best Experience:

  • Beating our first top 20 team, Vanderbilt in my last year- We were 3-1 down and I was a set and 5-2 30-0 down and clinched to win.

Midlands (Birmingham)

Abbi Melrose

University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, Bachelor of Arts in Communication, 2015.

College Career Highlights:

  • Quarterfinalist ITA Regionals, 2014.
  • ITA Central Region Senior Player of the Year, 2014.
  • Academic All-Big 12 First Team, 2012-2015.

Favorite Collegiate Moment:

  • Junior year clinching 7.6 in third on senior night against our in state rivals OSU.

South West

Howard Scott

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, New York Bachelor of Science in Political Science; Minor in History, 2016.

College Career:

  • ITA Doubles Ranking – 40.
  • 2 NCAA Tournament Appearances.
  • Captain Senior Year.

Best Experience:

  • Clinching the Horizon League Conference Tournament having been 5-1 down in the 3rd set and the overall match tied at 3-3.

Degree:

  • Enrolled at the University of Exeter doing my MSc in Marketing.
  • Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing.

Joe Smithyman

Niagara University, Lewiston, New York Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; Minor in History, 2016.

College Career Highlights:

  • Captain, (2015-2016).
  • ITA Scholar Athlete.

Favorite Collegiate Moment:

  • Playing at Flushing Meadows in the shadow of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Biggest Collegiate Achievement:

  • Graduating with Latin Honors and being inducted into two academic Honor Societies.

Nottingham and Loughborough

Beth Coton

Beth Coton

University of Northern Colorado, Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Honors in Communications, 2017.

College Career Highlights:

  • Ranked top 40 for doubles in the nation.
  • Reaching the semi-finals of the ITA regional tournament in doubles in 2015.
  • Captain.

Favorite Collegiate Moment:

  • Reaching 100 career wins in the fall semester of my senior year.
  • Being captain.

Best memory:

  • Graduating with a Communication honors, big sky all-conference honorable mention team my freshman year and gaining a top 40 ranking my junior year.
Charlotte Derbyshire

Charlotte Derbyshire

University of Denver, Colorado, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, 2016.

College Career Highlights:

  • Winning conference 3 times.
  • Making 3 NCAA appearances as a team.
  • Winning a tournament at Colorado University in the fall.
  • Being Captain.
  • Helping team to be ranked #35 in the nation my senior year.

Favourite Collegiate Moment:

  • Clinching my first match in 3 sets the first match of my senior season.

Memorable Moment:

  • The overall experience and getting to live in one of the most desirable cities to live in, in the US.