Willett named SJSU tennis team's academic MVP for Fall 2011

The bad news about Jessica Willett’s first college semester is that she missed a couple of tennis tournaments to heal an injury. The good news is that she was the San Jose State University tennis team’s academic most valuable player for the Fall 2011 semester.

Willett, a kinesiology major with a pre-professional emphasis, recorded a 3.95 grade point average for her first semester. “I’ve adapted to college really well, and I’m loving it,” she said. “I’m just excited that all my hard work paid off in school and that I’ve been able to balance school and tennis and everything else in between.”

The 2011 Fallbrook High School graduate competed in only one of San Jose State’s four fall tournaments due to a stress injury in her right shin. “I wish I could have competed in more of them, but I had an injury and had to take time off and thankfully it’s healed,” she said.

Willett needed six weeks of rest for her recovery. “Now it’s 100 percent back to normal,” she said.

Willett played doubles in her only fall tournament match, the Oct. 14 to 16 St. Mary’s Invitational in Moraga. Willett and doubles partner Chau Truong reached the tournament’s consolation semifinals before being eliminated.

San Jose State’s first dual match of the year took place Jan. 24 at Cal State University Bakersfield. Willett was the #5 singles player for San Jose State. “I think that’s like a good starting point for me,” she said.

“I was expecting to be in the top six,” Willett said. “I’m working on moving up over the next few months.”

Willett lost her first college singles match to Julian Mannix in a tiebreaking game. Willett took a 6-4 victory in the first set before Mannix evened the match with a 6-2 win in the second set and took the tiebreaking game 10 points to seven.

Willett was also part of the Spartans’ #3 doubles team at Bakersfield, teaming with Sandra Florea. Florea and Willett took an 8-4 victory over Daniela Dimas and Mannix.

“I’ve been playing well, and it’s been some tough competition,” Willett said.

Willett’s first college home match took place Jan. 27 against the University of Santa Clara. She lost her singles match but teamed with Florea in doubles to defeat Kacie Wagner and Alex Zaniewski. That doubles match was tied at seven games apiece before Willett and Florea prevailed in the final game.

“It’s been really fun playing with her,” Willett said of having Florea as a doubles partner. “We just kind of click.”

To comment on this story online, visit http://www.thevillagenews.com.