Katie Le Beats Top Ten Player Nationally

By Chris Glennon

Santa Clara's best women's tennis player ever keeps on getting better. And she's only a junior.

Over the weekend, Katie Le (No. 26 in the country) beat the University of California, Berkeley's Anett Schutting (No. 9) in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.

"I was so nervous," said Le. "I was up 5-1 and I just kept telling myself to close it out. I had to pull through."

In an interview with Santa Clara Bronco Athletics online, Head Coach Ben Cabell said the win was the biggest ever for a Santa Clara tennis player and the program's history. "It's an amazing win that will propel not only her confidence but the entire team's as well," he said.

By simply looking at the score you might think Le won with ease, but she assured us that was not the case. "The score didn't seem like it was really close," she said. "It felt like it was six all the entire time. (Schutting is) a really solid player. You really have to play every single point out."

And that's just what she did, in the process adding another line to her already impressive résumé as a Bronco tennis player. Le is the defending West Coast Conference Player of the Year and former WCC Freshman of the Year, but the local native from Milpitas, Calif. has her sights set higher this year.

"I want to be the number one player in our conference again," Le said. "I want to be ranked in the top 25 in the country and play in and win a round in the NCAA Tournament."

Le lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year to Georgia State's Abigail Tere-Apisah. Playing in 80-degree weather under 60 percent humidity, Le battled to a heartbreaking three set loss, 6-7(4), 7-5 and 0-6. Her appearance in last year's tournament was the first ever individual bid to the singles tournament for a Santa Clara Bronco.

"I've amped up my training," she said. "Three times a week and I've increased the amount of conditioning and weights I do."

Her new training regiment and focus could propel Le to reach her goals. "You have to mentally prepare yourself," she said. "We don't do anything different (against the top players)."

Regardless of her future success, Le's achievements up to this point in her career weren't necessarily expected. 

"I didn't expect to be ranked this high," Le said. "I remember as a freshman I was No. 108 and I thought that was really good. (The success) is not something I would have expected. My teammates have been there to support me all the way and that's really helped."

Le and her teammates will be back in action on Saturday when University of California, Santa Cruz visits Santa Clara.