Last hoorah for senior tennis player Victoria Matejevic

Women’s tennis player Victoria Matejevic will begin her senior year and her farewell season for the WSU women’s tennis team.

This upcoming weekend, Matejevic will begin her final first tournament at the Cougar Classic, a tournament comprised of five teams which include Boise State, Montana State and Lewis-Clark State College.

Originally from Helsingborg, Sweden, Matejevic was ranked No. 24 in the Sweden adult rankings and made it to the finals for the under-21 Sweden Championships in 2012. Matejevic has also been part of four National Team Championships in Sweden.

Through Matejevic’s success in Sweden, she gained the attention of WSU. She then signed with the Cougs, where she could showcase her tennis skills.

No other university she applied at showed interest like WSU. Women’s tennis Head Coach Lisa Hart personally flew to Sweden, representing WSU, in order to show why WSU was the right school for her.

Matejevic said she was impressed by the fact that someone from the university, let alone the head coach of the women’s tennis team, flew all the way out to Sweden to express their interest. Once Hart explained what WSU’s program was looking for, Matejevic was persuaded to become a Coug.

Moving from Sweden to Pullman wasn’t a big change for her. Matejevic said, as far as weather goes, Pullman “experiences the same seasons as in Sweden.”

Matejevic doesn’t have any family here in Pullman, but quickly made a strong relationship with the other members in the women’s tennis team during her time at WSU. All the women on the tennis team are international students.

When Matejevic first arrived, she spent her freshman year as a “redshirt.” A redshirt is when a student athlete can practice, dress for play and attend matches, but does not participate in any games.

In the last two years, Matejevic won 11 matches and lost three in the singles and secured 12 victories and conceded three losses for the doubles.

Matejevic is pursuing a career in Apparel, Design, Merchandising, & Textiles. Before she graduates, she must intern at an apparel design company or at a place of business that has something to do with her field of study. She said she does not know where she would like to intern.

Matejevic said she “values both tennis and her education.”

Since this will be Matajevic’s last year here at WSU, the women’s tennis team will no longer have a senior. Her experience has helped the underclassmen in techniques, tips, and other useful tennis knowledge.

“(I’m) sad because her time has gone so quickly,” Hart said. “I’m hopeful and optimistic she’s going to have an amazing year. She has earned it and works really, really hard.”