University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Freshman Feature: Isabella Kierkegaard
10/19/2020 3:07:00 PM | Women's Tennis
LAFAYETTE – Coming from a strongly rooted tennis family in Denmark, Isabella Kierkegaard's next journey starts at Louisiana.
Kierkegaard has always lived with her parents and four other siblings. As the second-oldest child in the Kierkegaard family, she became accustomed to tennis through her father and big sister. Her dad even played at the same club she did growing up.
"My dad has always played tennis from when he was a child and he played in the same club that I am with now," Kierkegaard explained. "I guess that's why I started playing tennis when I was around four or five years old."
Kierkegaard has played in Tennis Europe and traveled around the continent playing with her club, but it was her friends that kept her involved with the sport.
"I kept playing because of my family but also my friends, Kierkegaard said. "I just had a really good connection with the same aged players in the tennis club.
When it was time to decide where she wanted to continue her tennis career, the environment and bond with the team helped her land at Louisiana.
"I started off texting with Alex [Starkova] and she just put me in contact with Coach Stephanie [Vallejos]," Kierkegaard said. "We had a lot of good talks and she was so nice and helpful. The team was also very nice and there was a good energy around the team."
Kierkegaard is one of three athletes in the Ragin' Cajuns incoming class and head coach Stephanie Vallejos is liking the what she brings to the table.
"Isabella is a great addition to the team with an enthusiasm to play an aggressive game style," Vallejos said.
Although she is new to Louisiana, Kierkegaard has not been this far away from her home in Europe for this long. She insists a strong bond with the team will help her adapt to life in the United States.
"Everything is new," Kierkegaard said. "I have been away from home a couple of times in Europe, but now I am very far away from home. I need to get to know the other girls on the team even though there is a good connection."
Kierkegaard got her first taste of college tennis this past weekend at the Warhawk Invitational, winning two singles matches and two doubles matches.
FOLLOWING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS: Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@RaginCajunsWT) to stay up-to-date with Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Tennis.
Kierkegaard has always lived with her parents and four other siblings. As the second-oldest child in the Kierkegaard family, she became accustomed to tennis through her father and big sister. Her dad even played at the same club she did growing up.
"My dad has always played tennis from when he was a child and he played in the same club that I am with now," Kierkegaard explained. "I guess that's why I started playing tennis when I was around four or five years old."
Kierkegaard has played in Tennis Europe and traveled around the continent playing with her club, but it was her friends that kept her involved with the sport.
"I kept playing because of my family but also my friends, Kierkegaard said. "I just had a really good connection with the same aged players in the tennis club.
When it was time to decide where she wanted to continue her tennis career, the environment and bond with the team helped her land at Louisiana.
"I started off texting with Alex [Starkova] and she just put me in contact with Coach Stephanie [Vallejos]," Kierkegaard said. "We had a lot of good talks and she was so nice and helpful. The team was also very nice and there was a good energy around the team."
Kierkegaard is one of three athletes in the Ragin' Cajuns incoming class and head coach Stephanie Vallejos is liking the what she brings to the table.
"Isabella is a great addition to the team with an enthusiasm to play an aggressive game style," Vallejos said.
Although she is new to Louisiana, Kierkegaard has not been this far away from her home in Europe for this long. She insists a strong bond with the team will help her adapt to life in the United States.
"Everything is new," Kierkegaard said. "I have been away from home a couple of times in Europe, but now I am very far away from home. I need to get to know the other girls on the team even though there is a good connection."
Kierkegaard got her first taste of college tennis this past weekend at the Warhawk Invitational, winning two singles matches and two doubles matches.
FOLLOWING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS: Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@RaginCajunsWT) to stay up-to-date with Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Tennis.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
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