inside.hokiesports.com 15 was not all easy, her teammates were the ones who made her feel at home in Blacksburg. While Turkey is where Uslu grew up, she actually does not feel homesick at all. Besides her family and friends, Uslu says that being an athlete in America makes her feel professional. Her decisions as a student-athlete are respected, and the people around her really care to watch her succeed. She describes her teammates as sisters, and she knows that they want what is best for her.. The community of studentathletes, especially, makes her feel at home. Aside from moving stateside, playing at Tech is Uslu’s first time playing on a team. In Turkey, she played singles tennis without a team. The team dynamic, she says, helps her to stay focused. Uslu knows that her teammates rely on her to win, and that motivates her to try her absolute hardest as an athlete. A job that seems to come easily for the freshman, she is one of the top women playing in the ACC and claimed a No. 67 in the league. She has jumped quickly in the rankings after first appearing as No. 112 the week of March 12th. The week of April 4th, the ACC named Uslu Freshman of the Week. This was after Uslu defeated Georgia Tech’s No. 7 Carol Lee. The freshman stormed back after losing the first set 6-4, taking the next two over the top 10 ranked opponent 6-3 and 6-4. This was the highest-ranking win of any Hokie all season, and the pride was evident on Uslu’s face. Despite her serious demeanor on the court, Uslu’s love for tennis at Virginia Tech is clear through her smile while discussing her team. She beamed while explaining that it was a tough match, and expressed just how proud of herself that she was. Her victory over Lee was the highlight of her perfect weekend in singles over the weekend, after defeating Clemson’s Eleni Louka earlier in the trip. When asked what she wants Hokie Nation to know about her, her answer was easy: “I’m a fighter,” she stated. “I do my best to win.” She takes pride in being a part of a Hokie Nation, and is ready to carve out both a name and a home for herself in Blacksburg for the rest of her time here.
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