University of Minnesota Athletics
First Serve With Kalyssa Hall
12/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
Minneapolis, Minn. - Kalyssa Hall comes to the Gophers after winning two 4A state championships at Cherry Creek High School.
In three fall tournaments, Hall has collected four singles match wins and five doubles match wins. The business major had 4.08 GPA in high school and looks to continue her success at Minnesota.
GopherSports.com sat down with Hall to see how her freshman year has been going.
GopherSports.com: What made you decide to come to the University of Minnesota?
Kalyssa Hall: I really liked coach Merzbacher and the campus was the main thing. Overall, it is the best fit for me.
GS: How do you prepare for each tournament/match as a team and individually?
KH: As a team, have very intense practices and we are always intense on the court. As an individual, I just mentally start preparing a few days before a match. I am thinking and just getting ready for competition. But as a team, we have team meetings and we focus on what we are going to be doing for that week of the tournament.
GS: Being a freshman, do you ask the upperclassmen for advice on how to succeed as a player as well as academically?
KH: Yeah I have definitely asked all three of the upperclassmen for advice. We have two juniors and one senior. The senior, Maja Vujic, has given me a lot of advice on the court. She has really helped me on how to succeed and how to focus on being successful in this Division I environment. Both of the juniors, Caroline Ryba and Mehvish Safdar, have helped me with tennis as well, just helping me realize my strength. They have also helped me with school work and help me learn when I should study, when I shouldn't, when I need to be cheering on my team, and when I need to put away specific time to do my homework.
GS: What are your interests outside of tennis?
KH: I really love skiing and hiking and am really interested in photography.
GS: How has your first year of college been? Any moments that stick out?
KH: My first year of college has been very stressful but i feel like I am really growing as a person and as an athlete. I feel like I have come a long way in my first semester and am excited to see what the future holds!
Story by Athletic Communications Student Assistant Nirav Sura.
