The adjustment to college life isn’t always easy.
As an athlete it can be even more difficult. Dealing with practice, homework, a social life and performing at one’s peak day in and day out is a challenge to say the least.
Now imagine all of those struggles and add having to learn a whole new language and adjusting to an entirely new culture.
For women’s tennis freshman Joana Vale Costa, that struggle has become normal during her freshman season as a Lady Tiger.
Vale Costa, a Portuguese national, was a highly coveted player coming out of high school. She won numerous amateur tournaments in her home country, along with becoming both a Portuguese national singles and doubles champion.
During her time in the amateur ranks, Vale Costa acclimated to playing some of the best competition in the world, rising up the International Tennis Federation’s Under-18 rankings.
With her prestigious career on the amateur circuit behind her, she was expected to make an immediate difference to an LSU women’s tennis team that struggled during coach Julia Sell’s inaugural season in 2013, going 9-16 overall, while struggling to a 2-13 record in the tough Southeastern Conference.
However, that was not the case.
Vale Costa started the 2014 season at the one court, but Sell moved her down in the lineup for a couple of matches.
“I was afraid to play,” Vale Costa said. “I was afraid to show my tennis game.”
Sell said for the first two months Vale Costa struggled on the court due to her challenges with her new surroundings.
“I felt for her at times,” Sell said. “You know she’s playing the one spot, and everybody is good that she’s playing.”
On top of struggling as an international student, Vale Costa also had little time to adjust to her teammates and practice due to her arrival in January. The Lady Tigers started their season only a few days later on Jan. 19.
“The first three months here was a big change for me,” Vale Costa said. “I feel the pressure here a little bit. I mean I played WTAs, but it was a lot different because here you’re playing as a team and I didn’t have that in Portugal.”
Things didn’t get any easier for Vale Costa once the Lady Tigers’ season started. She has had a lingering shoulder issue throughout the season that has kept her from participating in a lot of training, forcing her to participate in tennis-related activities exclusively on match day.
With the Lady Tigers’ lack of depth, Vale Costa was forced to play through her pain and minimal training throughout the season.
That has led to a tendinitis issue in her knee, which has caused her to pull out of three of the Lady Tigers’ last four matches, while the coaching staff continues to evaluate her injury day by day.
Vale Costa said Sell helped her through tough times earlier in the season when she was struggling.
“[Sell] told me that I don’t have to prove myself to everyone,” Vale Costa said. “I just have to prove to myself that I’m doing a great job and that I can do it.”
Those words helped her become more comfortable in her new environment, leading Vale Costa to several wins over top opponents, most notably beating then-No. 29 Pleun Burgmans from Auburn on March 9 in straight sets.
Sell said Vale Costa still has a lot to improve on and better tennis to play, but that she has truly embraced what it means to play for LSU.
“I’m a Tiger,” Vale Costa said. “I have to fight and kill the opponent.”