When freshman Zoe Scandalis stepped on to the USC campus for the first time last year, she admits her jaw instantly dropped because she had finally found her dream school.
Now officially a student at Troy, Scandalis, who along with former CIF competitors Gabriella DeSimone and Sabrina Santamarina form one of the more formidable freshman classes the USC women's tennis program has seen in recent years, says what drew her to become a Trojan was the tradition-steeped athletic program. She has not wasted time etching her name into that tradition.
Two weeks ago, after cruising through the pre-qualifying and qualifying rounds of the ITA Riviera All-American Championships (October 1-9) with seven straight victories, Scandalis was faced with the first true test of her budding USC career, a matchup with the 2011 NCAA singles champion Jana Juricova from Cal.
"Going into that match, I had obviously heard a lot about her," said Scandalis. "I knew she was not going to be like the other girls I had faced in the tournament. But to have that kind of match against the very best in your very first college tournament, I thought was amazing."
Excitement turned to nervousness during the first string of games as Juricova dropped Scandalis with ease in the first set (6-2), but the freshman began to find herself as the match moved into the second set.
"I didn't get comfortable in the match right away, at least not like I was in the previous seven I had played," said Scandalis. "I was getting killed right off the bat, but I finally got settled in, relaxed and really battled with the best in the country."
Battling doesn't begin to describe the freshman's heart in the final two sets of her showdown with Juricova. Scandalis controlled the pace in the second set, putting the nation's top player on the ropes with a bevy of long rallies and backhand winners en route to a 7-5 victory.
In the decisive third frame, Scandalis had one match point opportunity, but Juricova proved to be too strong, using her experience to survive the Trojan's rising young star. Although she would eventually lose the final set in a tiebreak (7-6), Scandalis believes she can now play with anyone in the country.
In the decisive third frame, Scandalis had one match point opportunity, but Juricova proved to be too strong, using her experience to survive the Trojan's rising young star. Although she would eventually lose the final set in a tiebreak (7-6), Scandalis believes she can now play with anyone in the country.
"That match taught me that I can be one of the best players in college tennis. No matter how far behind I am, if I take things one step at a time, and dig deep, who knows what can happen."
Just a few months into her time at USC, Scandalis (pictured right by NC Times) appears on her way to bigger and better things, because what she may lack in experience, she certainly makes up for with a rare sense of poise and confidence.
Those traits certainly flow in her blood lines, as Scandalis' cousin, Sania Mirza, became the first Indian woman in the history of the sport to be seeded at a grand slam (No. 32 at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships). And, in addition to her cousin's success on the court (2009 Australian Open Mixed Doubles Champion), Scandalis' father, Will, was a professional triathlete, while her mother, Aneesa, played rugby and lacrosse at Johns Hopkins.
Even though her family has already laid the groundwork for athletic greatness, Scandalis says she has her own plans, which include helping USC win a team title during her four years and potentially a long career on the WTA (a circuit she already got a taste of in two tournaments this summer).
The native of San Diego, CA will continue her quickly evolving Trojan tale this week in her hometown as USC competes in the ITA Regionals at the Barnes Tennis Center.
"I feel like I am on a roll right now and am really match tough," said Scandalis. "I have been playing at the upcoming site since I was eight years old. And now to have a fan base of my parents, former coaches and friends coming to cheer me on, it's really exciting."
