Written by Max Holm, USC blog contributorÂ
Tennis is one of the loneliest sports in the world. It takes a certain person, a certain animal, to face and thrive under the isolation and mental obstacles that come up during a match. In many ways, successful tennis players have to act like a lone alpha wolf, looking out for themselves and abiding by nature's primary rule: survival of the fittest. While the professionals are stuck in a career of isolation, college tennis teams function less like lone wolves and more like packs.
A lone alpha is to a pack of wolves as star senior Giuliana Olmos is to USC women's tennis. One of only two seniors on her team, this season when she looks around her locker room there are only two other players who are not underclassmen.Â
"I had other people to look up to and now I guess I'm the one they're supposed to look up to," says Olmos with a laugh. "I'm the lonely one."Â
Expectations may be sky high for the reigning Pac-12 champions, and for a player who finished last season ranked No. 15 in the country, but Olmos is still focused on enjoying the ride.
"I'm just trying to enjoy each match as much as I can. I'm just playing with my best friends out there," said the reminiscent Olmos. "It's a lot of fun. I've loved every minute of being here at SC and playing for them."Â
She has loved every minute, but this season presents perhaps the biggest challenge of her career. Her young team has, in her own words, "gotten off to a bumpy start", with a  3-4 record including losses to California and Florida. If you know Olmos' story, however, you know the past two decades have prepared her for this very season.Â
Olmos, who plays both singles and doubles for USC, started playing tennis before the age of six, and naturally became more and more committed. "Tennis was literally my life," recounted Olmos.
From training two hours a day at the age of eight, to being home schooled at age 14 so she could practice six-to-eight hours a day, Olmos prepared herself for a potentially long career in tennis. Without knowing so at the time, she was also preparing for her senior year.
At an early age, she idolized the aggression of tennis greats like Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. As she grew, she learned the value of discipline - both mental and physical - and the focus it took to be one of the sport's elite. This past summer, while on her own in individual tournaments away from her teammates and coaches, she discovered even more the importance of mental strength.
"When I'm on the court I have to be my own best friend... Otherwise I'm going to be playing against myself," said Olmos.Â
Her mental strength allows her to stay composed in her own matches and talk her teammates through adversity. She also says she's gotten better at being able to adapt to different players' styles, which is knowledge she can certainly pass on to younger players.Â
Olmos loves leading her team, but soon it will be her turn to leave the pack. While it is bittersweet for the senior to leave behind the memories, championships and the Cardinal & Gold, she knows all of her hard work and dreaming is about to pay off.
"They've all helped me grow as a person and they've been so supportive here at my time at USC. They really are a family to me," said Olmos emotionally. "But I'm super excited to go out and play pro, and finally get to do what I've been training my whole life for."
But before this lone senior becomes a lone alpha in the professional tennis circuit, she has one last chance to lead the pack at USC. Her goals are to push herself to repeat as an All-American and her team as Pac-12 champions, work that continues with a new slate this weekend.
The path to win the Pac-12 starts Friday and Saturday at Marks Stadium against Washington and Washington State. The Women of Troy host the Huskies at 1:30 p.m. on Friday and take on the Cougars on Saturday at 12 p.m. Be sure to follow @USCWomenTennis for in-match updates and more all season long.
