Name: Jessica Liu
Sport: Women's Tennis
Hometown: Westport, Conn.
High School: Green Farm Academy
Activities/Clubs/Committees: Bi-Co Orchestra

Why did you choose Haverford?
I chose to go to Haverford because I wanted to go to a strong academic school with small community so that I could really get to know the people well. Also, after high school, I wasn't quite ready to give up playing tennis, and Haverford provided me the opportunity to continue my tennis career.

What is your favorite team experience?
My favorite team experience was definitely winning against the second-seeded F&M in the semifinal round of the Centennial Conference playoffs to advance to the finals. It was the first time in the women's tennis program history for us to make it to the finals and it was a tough feat. The match boiled down to the very last two matches and we played through two rain delays. It had felt like we had played a marathon match but nothing compared to the way we felt after we had won.

Why did you choose to play a sport in college?
For all four years of my high school, I played in all three seasons for sports and I just couldn't image not playing a sport or being part of a team. Sports have taught me some of the most important lessons in life that you may not be able to find within the walls of a traditional classroom, but rather on a field or court.

What does being a student-athlete mean to you?
Being a student-athlete, the student part is supposed to take place before the athlete; however I've found that it's rather a balance of the two. It's about learning how to time-manage and organize your schedule so that you can succeed and represent Haverford not only as a student but also as an athlete.

What makes Haverford unique?
I believe Haverford is unique in its size. At other schools it's easy to get lost in the sea of people that you may never get to know in your four years. At Haverford, even if you don't get to know everyone, you can at least recognize majority of the faces on campus. There's an entrenched sense of community on campus because of its small size.