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Teresa Tran (WTN: 20.6) always bakes the cookies when Lakes Tennis Academy holds a college signing day event to celebrate players. Tran even decorates the cookies to represent the different schools.

Tran will be baking some for herself this year with blue and white icing. The Five-star senior from Frisco, Texas has committed to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

“For all the colleges I visited, you get a nice weight room and a good sports team, but the people you can't really change. I feel like that's what really sold me on Creighton,” Tran said. “College is an experience you can never get back and it’s an important part of your life, so making those friends and relationships are the most important by far.”

Creighton head coach Tom Lilly initially contacted Tran last year to gauge her interest in joining the program.

“They weren't even in my radar at first. But the coach, he's awesome, he kept reaching out, and I decided that I should go on a visit,” Tran said. “I wanted to see different areas and see where I could fit in. And I found that I really liked it.”

Born and raised in Texas, Tran got her start in tennis later than many players. She first picked up a racket at age 8 and would hit with her brother and dad, who told Tran she had to be a “super champ (back when they had Championship Major Zones) before I could join so I had to earn my way to play tennis at a higher level.”

Tran started taking private lessons and competing in tournaments at 12. Her academy is located less than a mile from her home. Over the years, she has improved physically and mentally as a player and learned to become more coachable.

“I don't really get down too much. I'm kind of emotionless. I leave my emotions off the court,” Tran said. “On the court, I just kind of focus on the task that I have to do, and I try to compete as best as I can.”

Tran comes from a large family. She has five siblings, with two sisters and three brothers. She will be the second of the children to leave for college.

“We're super competitive, and we all play different sports, so I would always try to beat them at everything,” Tran said. “With a big family, you never get bored. There is always something happening.”

The experience has also helped Tran learn to work with others and not be isolated despite playing an individual sport. That dynamic is part of what excites Tran most about playing at Creighton.

“Definitely being part of a team, because in USTA you're doing everything by yourself and you're all alone,” she said. “I can’t wait for college, because you're always on a team, like every tournament. I find that so fun.”

Although she’s relieved to have finished the recruiting process, Tran is not satisfied with her accomplishments on the court.

“I feel like there's still so much time left to keep improving,” she said. “I still have a goal and there is still something to work towards.”

And a few more cookies to bake before she leaves Texas.

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About Rhiannon Potkey

Rhiannon Potkey is a veteran sportswriter with more than two decades of experience in journalism. Potkey has covered many sports at many levels and has a passion for finding great stories. Potkey has covered the U.S. Open, junior sectional and national events, college conference championships and Davis Cup matches. Potkey is currently Content Strategist for Tennis Recruiting. You can reach Rhiannon by email at [email protected].