Emory's TOC team leaders earn Southern honor
Find more info and assets on USTA Southern Tennis On Campus Championship.
The competition initially attracted them to Tennis on Campus. The camaraderie has kept them coming back for more.
Anish Jona and Katherine Silacci both joined the club tennis team at Emory University in Atlanta as freshmen. Jona, a South Carolina native, and Silacci, a Massachusetts native, played junior tennis growing up and didn’t want to put their racquets down once they reached college.
They found a welcoming community through Tennis on Campus filled with regular students just like themselves.
Emory Tennis On Campus co-presidents Katherine Silacci and Anish Jona (front row) pose with teammates.
“We enjoy the opportunity to get to know our own team, as well as other teams better,” Silacci said. “At tournaments, some of our favorite moments are hanging out with our team in between matches or getting to know other teams as we share court space and see each other repeatedly throughout the year, especially in the Southern Region. Anish and I love seeing the familiar faces at each tournament, and it is always something we look forward to as we get ready for upcoming tournaments.”
Jona and Silacci are now co-presidents of Emory’s club team. The seniors were recently named Tennis on Campus Leaders of the Year by USTA Southern.
“TOC’s support throughout our leadership process has been incredible,” Jona said. “From meetings before the season started, to helping us plan logistics for our own home tournament, TOC has eased a lot of the worries and obstacles we faced stepping into the co-president position for Emory club tennis.”
As sophomores, Jona and Silacci helped Emory win the rally bracket at USTA Southern Tennis On Campus Championship and qualify for nationals for the first time in program history.
Anish Jona and Katherine Silacci
“When Anish and I stepped into leadership positions, we had big shoes to fill,” Silacci said. “We did our best to emulate the leadership we had experienced and were able to qualify for nationals again in our junior year, and hopefully again this year.”
Emory’s club players take great pride in the program. They wear their club merch around campus and get together to socialize away from the court. Jonas and Silacci are grateful to be able to play the sport they love in college even though they aren’t members of a varsity team.
“I would encourage other colleges to start a Tennis on Campus program because club tennis has been instrumental in our college careers,” Silacci said. “Having an outlet from academic pressures and having a space to meet new people you otherwise would not have met fosters a great community among club tennis at Emory.”
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