By Fabiana Palacios (@fabianadaniela_) – Spear Reporter
Junior Olaya Iglesias | Photo courtesy of SJSU athletics
Junior Olaya Bances Iglesias emerged as an exceptional tennis player. Her journey, punctuated by achievements that have left a mark on both national rankings and the European junior tour, has led her to decide to depart from her hometown of Gijón, Spain, to advance her tennis career at SJSU.
While many young European athletes stay in their home countries to dominate their region, Iglesias has chosen a different path. She has traded her familiar courts and homegrown competition in Gijón for a spot on the women’s tennis team at SJSU.
On one end of the court, she has found a home at SJSU, a place where she can play tennis to her heart’s content and seize new opportunities. On the other end of the court, she misses her friends and family back in Spain dearly.
“Now I have to figure out how it is having two homes at the same time, right?” said Iglesias.
Chad Skorupka, women’s tennis head coach, said Iglesias’ transition from Spain to SJSU was remarkably smooth, with her quickly integrating herself within the team and forming strong bonds with her teammates. Once she stepped onto the court, her commitment and passion for the game became evident.
As the tennis season approaches, Iglesias is pouring her energy into practice matches. During her two-hour practices in the scorching sun, she communicates with her teammates and keeps everyone motivated.
During a match against New Mexico in the Mountain West quarter-final, Skorupka noticed she was the last singles player on the tennis courts. Despite the immense pressure, Iglesias performed exceptionally for the team.
“For many of us, that is a lot of pressure, and she was able to do well under pressure; that had a huge impact on her career,” said Skorupka.
Junior Olaya Iglesias | Photo courtesy of SJSU athletics
She seized the opportunity to come to the United States, fulfilling her dream of studying business and marketing while pursuing her passion for tennis.
“I want to earn my degree and continue playing because it’s the sport I love,” Iglesias said. “It’s the best of both worlds.”
She had limited playing time in her first year, only participating in two matches. Her eagerness to compete made it challenging to sit on the sidelines to watch her teammates shine on the court without her.
For Iglesias, it was important for her to feel a connection with her coach and to polish her tennis skills. In addition to California’s pleasant weather and locations, she said the diversity of students at SJSU was the key factor in her decision-making process.
Senior Carolina Millan, Iglesias’ teammate, also said Iglesias’ transition into the team was remarkably smooth.
“Iglesias’ Spanish background brings a fighter energy to the team,” Millan said. “Inspiring everyone to work even harder for the next match.”
Junior Olaya Iglesias | Photo courtesy of SJSU athletics
Iglesias, originating from Spain, and Millan, originally from Mexico, connected as teammates and friends, both from Spanish-speaking countries. Everyone on the team is international, with different backgrounds and personalities and has bonded like family.
“She never quits,” said Millan.
Iglesias was introduced to the world of tennis at the age of seven by her family friend Esteban Carril.
Carril founded T.M. Management, a tennis academy in Spain. Recognizing Iglesias’s interest and newfound love for tennis, T.M. Management saw a golden opportunity. Iglesias traveled Europe for tournaments and at 15, started her solo journey, reaching the 2019 XLI Apple Bowl Tennis Europe Junior Tour finals in singles and doubles.
Motivating Iglesias to train harder and utilize her skills to obtain a scholarship that would enable her to showcase her talents in the United States tennis courts.
“It was a lot of pressure at the moment to get good results,” said Iglesias.
Looking ahead, Iglesias has ambitious goals. She is not only committed to working on her tennis skills and representing SJSU but also to her academic pursuits as a business and marketing major.
“She plays well, and if you play well, many things can come your way,” said Skorupka.