Huang, CU Prepare For Pac-12 Opening Weekend Against Arizona, Arizona State

BOULDER – Freshman Linda Huang has helped the Colorado women's tennis team to one of its best starts in program history, forging a 7-2 record and a No. 113 singles ranking herself thus far — 6-2 at No. 1 singles — to help the Buffs to a 7-2 start.

The Buffs are coming off a weekend sweep of New Mexico State and New Mexico and will open Pac-12 play this weekend with a pair of matches. CU hosts Arizona (8-5) on Friday at 1:30 p.m., followed by a Sunday match with No. 34-ranked Arizona State (7-3).

"Going into the season, especially Pac-12, it's going to get tougher and tougher, but we just have to take each match as it comes," Huang said.

Huang was a decorated tennis star in Stratified, NSW, Australia before deciding to attend CU. She graduated from Meriden Tennis Academy after leading them to four All-Australian school championships in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016. She also won the gold medal at the International Sports Federation World Tennis Championship in 2015.

After growing up overseas, Huang's decision to continue her career in the United States was an easy choice.

"Boulder is a great school with great facilities. I love the diversity of the team with four Australians. It's also a beautiful campus," she said. "My parents are really supportive of my decision to come to America and to be independent, especially because they recognize the opportunity for me in America. They really encouraged me."

For Huang, her parents have been huge motivators and inspirations during her tennis career. Her mother, Lili Zhang, was an Olympic volleyball player for China.

"Both my parents were involved in sports at a high level, and I aim to do better than they did in terms of the level I reach in my career," Huang said.

The transition from a foreign country to America for any college student is a challenging process, but Huang has adjusted to the competition and culture without issue.

"I found the transition to playing in America relatively easy. The one thing that has bothered me is the altitude. It's a little tricky to adjust to this altitude, but I'm getting used to it," Huang said. "It was not that difficult to adapt to American culture because English is the main language here as it is back home, so that part was nice and easy. The one thing I really miss though is my Mom's cooking."

CU coach Nicole Kenneally believes Huang will continue to improve this season.

"Linda's primed to make another leap up because she works so hard to make adjustments to improve her game," Kenneally said. "As long as she stays patient and keeps her belief in herself strong, her game will fall into place."

After 18 years of coaching Colorado tennis, Kenneally is aware of the learning curve that talented freshman go through in their first season.

"I think every freshman with high expectations goes through an adjustment period so this is definitely a time of adjustment for Linda," Kenneally explained.

With Pac-12 play now up next, Huang has several personal and team goals for the 2018 season.

"My main goal is to finish in the Top 20 of the ITA college rankings, win as many matches as possible, and make the NCAA as a team," Huang said.