Three seniors have left their mark on SU Tennis

The three seniors of the Syracuse women’s tennis team may be graduating and moving on to new things, but they will leave behind a legacy of all that they have learned and all that they have taught to the underclassmen.

Simone Kalhorn, Christina Tan, and Jacquelynn Tang have been with the team for four years. They are strong leaders, talented players, and great examples for the rest of the team to follow. Two are captains on this year’s squad.

Photo: Timothy R. Olsen

Seniors Simone Kalhorn, Jacquelynn Tang, and Christina Tan pose in front of Otto at the Drumlins Tennis Center, after the final home match of their careers.

“These girls really understand what it means to be a Syracuse University athlete,” SU head coach Luke Jensen said. “They demonstrate great physical fitness, mental toughness, confidence, and some of the best examples of leadership I’ve ever seen.”

In an unprecedented show of leadership, Tan was the only freshman captain in SU athletic history. Tan, a California native, is a recording and allied entertainment major. She has been on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll every semester during her time at Syracuse, and was named to the 2010 Big East All-Academic Team.

Tan also boasts a career record of 95-62, including an 19-3 record at singles and a 6-3 doubles record during the 2011 season.  She had a slightly rocky start her freshman year, going 21-28, but since then she holds an incredible and team-leading 68 percent winning percentage. Coach Jensen lauds Tan for her tenacity and effort in every match.

Kalhorn is co-captain with Tan, and is a biochemistry major from Colorado. Her career record is 106-75. With that record, Kalhorn is a member of an elite group of Syracuse players totaling more than 100 wins. Only 26 have achieved this feat in more than 30 years. She has only three losses in singles play all season, and in each of those instances she required a third set of play, proving toughness and competitiveness.

Kalhorn is an icon of courage for the Syracuse team. She best exemplified this in a match against Georgetown where her nose was broken during play. She continued to play, and eventually won the match. She played the following day as well.

Finishing out the trio of graduating seniors is Tang. Though she has played less than her fellow seniors due to the extreme talent of the team as a whole, but has been just as vital to their success. The information management and technology major from Las Vegas is the only Syracuse tennis player to ever post a win against Notre Dame – which she did in her very first year. Tang’s overall record for her duration at Syracuse is 31-26.

All three players, while excited to continue on and have new experiences, have greatly enjoyed their time with the Orange. They hope to continue their academic achievements, blessed by a degree from Syracuse, along with continuing their athletic goals.

"The coaches are so enthusiastic and supportive,” Kalhorn said. “Every time we get out on the court, they are always making us work harder every day to make sure that we are propelling ourselves in order to accomplish our dreams."