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31 T he University of Iowa is just over a third of the way through its women's tennis season, but don't tell that to the group of newcomers. For this young and energetic group of Hawkeyes, the season could not go by slow enough. Among Iowa's five new members, Samantha Mannix has been an impressive addition to the Hawkeyes' roster. Mannix, from Elkhorn, Nebraska, posted an undefeated singles career of 114-0 at Elkhorn South High School. As many premier amateur tennis players moved to play at tennis academies, Mannix and her family decided to stick with their roots. "ere were tough matches, but I was able to push through them," Mannix said. "I was always determined to play high school tennis all four years and it was a defining part of my high school experience. It exposed me to the team aspect of tennis in preparation for college tennis." By nature, playing tennis at the collegiate level poses more challenges than high school. For Mannix, the increased level of competition has been the biggest difference. "Every single match has been competitive and pushed me in new ways," Mannix said. "Having these matches to look back at and learn from will be beneficial to my improvement as a player." In the eyes of the coaching staff, Mannix is making the right strides to set herself up for long term success on and off the court. "Samantha has made a great transition to college," said Iowa head coach Sasha Schmid. "She excels in the classroom and as a freshman, leads our team in GPA. She is a great competitor and loves all the new challenges of college tennis." Schmid realizes the difficult workload the freshman has faced while playing at Iowa's No.1 singles position. "She gets every team's best player and she digs into each match she plays," Schmid said. "Nothing is easy for her and she continues to be driven, improve, and play at her best to put a point on the board in doubles and single. Even as a freshman, she is learning about leadership and the impact she has on her teammates. I am excited to see her grow in that capacity throughout her career at Iowa." With 10 matches at the No.1 singles position under her belt, it's clear Mannix enjoys the competition and is driven by a winning mentality. ough winning is enjoyable, creating a bond and relationships with her teammates from all walks of life is far more important. "It is so amazing to have teammates from England, Belgium, Canada, and across the United States," said Mannix. "I get to learn the many similarities and differences between where we are all from. It has opened my eyes to how incredible it is that tennis brought us all together. "It is also amazing to represent such an amazing program. I know every time I step on the court that I am representing not only myself, but my team and the University of Iowa." MARCH SCHEDULE March 9 vs. Furman (Fort Myers, Fla.) March 10 at Florida Gulf Coast March 12 vs. Notre Dame March 16 at Michigan State March 17 at Michigan March 24 at Ohio State March 29 Purdue March 31 Indiana