Profile: Freshman tennis star is making an impact on the court and on her team

Being a freshman on campus can be challenging and even intimidating to any college student. But for freshman tennis player Tiffany Nguyen, that challenge is only multiplied by being thousands of miles from her home and family. 

Born and raised in Vietnam, Nguyen had no idea that she would one day end up playing collegiate tennis in America.

“Growing up in Vietnam I would always think that God would send me to the worst places – I would pray and tell God that he could send me anywhere,” Nguyen said. “America was always that one hard place for me to go because I thought that America had everything.”

Liberty is Nguyen’s first exposure to a larger school system. She grew up homeschooled, and when she was not doing schoolwork, she was on the courts.

But her time on the courts was well spent, winning two national titles at the professional level and three at the junior level, and catching the attention of Head Coach Jeff Maren.

“I received an email saying that I needed to check out this player from Vietnam, and I researched her like I would anyone else who I got an email about, but it was apparent that she could play, and that she could get results,” Maren said.

Maren noticed that even at a young age Nguyen was playing in front of crowds of hundreds of people. He knew that playing at the DI level would not be intimidating for her.

“I have found it really easy to forget about everyone outside the court when I am on the court,” Nguyen said. “Before I would play for myself, but now I am playing for my team and my confidence comes from practicing every day.”

Even though Nguyen is thousands of miles away from her family and her home, she says that the team at Liberty has been like a family to her and she feels at home.

Maren has noticed how well Nguyen has bonded with the team even as
a freshman.

“In the tournaments we have had so far, she has helped to produce a lot of the energy we need to be successful and the support we give each other,” Maren said. “She is very natural at it, and that is very unusual as a freshman to come right in and lead the team with positive energy.”

Coming to America has had its challenges, managing coursework, social life and her hours of practice with the team, but Nguyen has been able to find a balance through it all.

“When I came here my entire mindset changed – I knew this is where God wanted me to be, so I was going to do my best to please him and honor him in that way,” Nguyen said. “I can get a degree to go out to wherever God may call me and serve him.”

Nguyen admits that when she was here with her mom over the summer she still felt comfortable because she had a piece of home with her. When her mom left, Nguyen began to feel the separation and distance between her and her home.

To help with the isolation, Nguyen began to bond with her team, and they have helped fill the void her absence from family caused.

“This team is really like a family, and I am not just saying that,” Nguyen said. “I thought that it was just something they said, but it’s true — we all love each other.”