Missouri Valley / Oklahoma

Rally in the Valley Q&A with Kate Vialle

David Minihan | May 30, 2024

We caught up with Kate Vialle, the 2010 and 2012 singles winner of the USTA Missouri Valley Rally in the Valley Championships (formally known as Sweet 16). She is one of the top players ever to come out of Kansas.

 

Where do you live now? 

 

Overland Park, Kan.


Where did you live when you won the Sweet 16?

 

I lived in Leawood, Kan. when I won Sweet 16.

 

What is your favorite thing about the sport?

 

I fell in love with tennis at a very young age. I feel as if tennis is a great lifelong sport. I also loved how you can have that individual side of the sport by playing singles, but also could have that team/group feeling by playing doubles or continuing on to play college tennis.

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Favorite tennis memory?

 

My favorite memory of Sweet 16 was winning it my senior year of high school. It was the last USTA Missouri Valley tournament I would ever play before heading to college, so it felt great to end it on such a fun and positive note.

 

Tell us about your experiences with the Sweet 16, and what made it stand out from other tournaments?

 

Sweet 16 was always the best of the best from the USTA Missouri Valley playing it. Just overall a great tournament to kick off and prepare for the run of summer tournaments that followed in July/August.

 

Did you go on to play college tennis? If so, where?

 

Yes, I went on to play college tennis at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

 

What were some of your standout accomplishments in tennis?

Kate Vialle competing at a USTA junior tournament.

Being able to play college tennis at UNC is one of my biggest accomplishments. The opportunity to attend a high-level academic school and be on the team of one of the best tennis programs in the country. But more importantly, being able to be around such great people was incredible. The coaches and administration are all wonderful people, and my teammates are now some of my closest friends.

 

What are you doing now?

 

Currently living in Overland Park, Kan. with my family. I am a senior retirement plan consultant at Mariner Wealth Advisors.

 

Are you married? If so, what is your significant other’s name? Any kids?

 

My husband’s name is Brett Clark. He also played college tennis at UNC, which is where we met. We got married in July 2019 and have two kids. Our daughter, Charlotte, is 2 1/2 years old, and new baby brother Cameron is 6 weeks old. We also have a dog named Piper. We are busy! lol :)

 

Lastly, do you have any advice for the junior players today?

 

My advice for today’s junior players would be to never lose your love for the game. If you forget why you fell in love with the sport in the first place, then it eventually will feel like a “job” and not just getting to go out and play a sport that you love. Just keep everything in perspective.

 

The 2024 Rally in the Valley Championships take place June 13-16 at Edmond Center Court in Edmond, Okla. Learn more about the USTA Level 3 Closed junior tournament by clicking here.

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