WASHINGTON WOMEN'S TENNIS PAYS TRIBUTE TO THREE SENIORS

By Porter Jones

By Washington Huskies

April 20^th, 2018

thank you, seniors

The Huskies bid farewell to the three seniors who will play their final home match on Saturday. Miki Kobayashi, Angela Li and Alexis Prokopuik will all finish their tennis careers at Washington after this season.

WASHINGTON WOMEN'S TENNIS PAYS TRIBUTE TO THREE SENIORS

MIKI KOBAYASHI

Miki Kobayashi came to UW from Nagano, Japan as a freshman and has played four years on the women’s tennis team. There were a lot of factors that went into Kobayashi’s decision to come to Seattle, but it was the team environment that influenced her decision the most.

“It was different coming in here as a freshman because I had previously viewed tennis as an individual sport, not a team sport,” Kobayashi said. “When I came here, it became a team sport.”

Along with this team environment, Kobayashi said that she has learned to handle adversity better during her time on the Washington tennis team and overcome things that challenge her.

Washington’s match against Alabama last year stands out in Kobayashi’s mind as a memorable moment. She said that it was not only a match that turned around her singles play, but it was also a time where she really felt like she was playing with the team.

“That’s the time where I felt you give everything you have for the team, to get a point for a team,” Kobayashi said.

Beyond tennis at UW, Kobayashi hopes to keep playing tennis and play on some tours, and to hopefully work in either Seattle or San Francisco.

ANGELA LI

Angela Li had previously competed with the track and field team at UW before deciding to switch sports to tennis for her senior season.

“It took me some time to decide whether to keep things the same and graduate with the track team or whether I should make the switch,” Li said. “I wanted to try something new, and it really allowed me to find who I am because tennis has always been a sport that I’ve been playing and that I love playing.”

Li said she was nervous at first about making the switch, and how she would interact with the team. However, the team welcomed her with open arms.

“I immediately realized that they are all really friendly people and are like a family,” Li said. “It’s more like a family than a team.”

Li points to her first match win against Eastern Washington as a memorable moment from her career on the tennis team.

“I was really proud after that,” Li said. “I also knew that everyone on the team was genuinely happy for me.”

Li has an internship this summer with Kaiser Permanente and plans on staying and working in Seattle once she is finished at Washington.

ALEXIS PROKOPUIK

Alexis Prokopuik transferred her junior year to Washington from Georgia Tech. The decision to become a Husky turned out to be an easy one for the Canadian.

“It felt like home,” Prokopuik said when talking about UW. “I’m from Vancouver, B.C, and being closer to home was a big thing for me. I just felt more comfortable.”

Prokopuik mentioned the positivity and work ethic of the team as big positives from her time as a Husky, as well as how welcoming the team was once she transferred.

“Robin and the girls and all the staff, academics, they were really inviting and supportive,” Prokopuik said.

Prokopuik mentioned playing USC at home her junior year as a memorable match from her time at Washington, when the Huskies upset the Trojans.

“That was a major moment for us and the program,” Prokopuik said. “I’ll always remember that, and how happy and elated everybody was.”

Prokopuik has an internship this summer with Howard S. Wright Construction and will then return to Seattle next year to finish her studies in construction management.

The Huskies finish their home season and celebrate their seniors in a rivalry match this Saturday against Washington State at 12:00 p.m. PT. Live streaming and stats can be found at gohuskies.com.