By Kaitlin Fuelling, '13 

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Katie Le (KL), a junior from Milpitas, Calif. has had quite a successful career as a member of the women's tennis team.  Le posted a preseason record of 6-3 and just last week she Le received a bid to the 2013 NCAA Singles Championship.  SantaClaraBroncos.com (SCB) was able to sit down with Le to talk about her time on the tennis team so far as well as to the season ahead.

SCB: What is your usual pre-match routine?

KL: I always eat the same breakfast before a match, which consists of Greek yogurt and an English muffin with peanut butter and a banana.  When playing, I change the grips on my rackets and do the same warm-up that our trainer taught us.

SCB: What has been the best part about being on the tennis team?

KL: I love the friends that I've made and the relationships I have built with my teammates and my coaches.  I can say with confidence that these girls will be my friends for life.  Of course I also love the competition.  I live to play this sport and nothing else in life can provide me with the same exhilaration and satisfaction that I get from playing.  

SCB: Do you have any good memories from your time at SCU so far?

KL: My two favorite memories both occurred this season.  The first is when I defeated Stanford's number one player, who is the NCAA defending champion.  I was experiencing a tough losing streak before this match and I was so happy that I was playing well again and had regained my confidence.  My other memory would be when we beat St. Mary's for the first time, and I was the clinching match.  The feeling of winning not only for myself, but also for my entire time is a great feeling that I cannot put into words.

SCB: How will you continue to train over the summer?

KL: I will be interning at Qualcomm in San Diego this summer, so I will not be training in the Bay Area as I have done entire life.  I look forward to making new connections in Southern California and training with different people after work.  I will be following the summer workout packet that our trainer usually gives us.  Finally, I plan to play in some pro-circuit WTA tournaments at the end of summer after my internship ends and before I go back to school.

SCB: What are you looking forward to about next season?  

KL: My individual goals for next season would be to become an All-American by doing well at the All-American Tournament.  I would like to play at both team and singles NCAA's and be ranked within the top 20 for singles.  As for team goals, I hope we can win the WCC conference, get ranked within the top 50, and make the NCAA's for the first time.

SCB: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

KL: If I could travel anywhere, I would want to go to Italy.  I love Italian food and I want to visit Venice.  I'm definitely planning this when I graduate!

GO BRONCOS!