Apaches News
Thu, Apr 1, 2010 - [Women's Tennis]
Article Courtesy of Thomas Heiss, FGCU Student Newspaper
 
Four years ago, Priscillia Villemond was living with her family as a teenager in Orleans, France, about an hour south of Paris, doing what she loved - playing tennis.

Since then, she moved to Texas alone to play tennis at Tyler Junior College, transferred to FGCU and got engaged to the Eagles' No. 1 men's singles tennis player Thibaud Aime.


At a time when it seemed like nothing was staying consistent in her life, she had tennis.

"I came here by myself when I was 19 years old," Villemond explains. "I just wanted to consolidate both tennis and studies. In Europe you cannot play sports in college and for business school you must study over 39 hours a week. You basically have no life."

With a deeply embedded passion for tennis and tons of talent to go along with it, she made the jump overseas, but never forgets what she left behind.

"My mother, Isabelle, influenced me the most in my life. We talk on the phone for two hours a day and it's good to have your parents to be here and follow you with what you want to do in your life. They respected my choices and are always here for me."

Villemond didn't always play tennis, however.

She first played handball for six years before her father, Jean-Claude, got her into tennis, a sport he loved.

"My dad loves sports; he runs and bikes a lot, is a soccer coach and plays tennis at his tennis club," Villemond recalls. "I would go to the club on Sundays with my dad and picked up the sport. I would play an hour a week, then two, then four, then six while getting coaching by my dad. It was then that I began entering tournaments."

After high school, she knew her choices were limited to puruse both a marketing degree and play tennis in Europe, so she attended Tyler Junior College in Texas in 2007, where she was part of the Junior College National Championship team.

Villemond says winning the JUCO Nationals in the No. 3 position is her favorite tennis accomplishment thusfar.

After two years at Tyler, Villemond transferred to FGCU and was instantly slotted in at the No. 1 singles spot.

"There is a lot more pressure playing Division I. People are really talented and since I play the number one position, you need to play at the top of your game all the time," Villemond said.

Villemond also competes in doubles matches with her partner, Eva Sambrano, whom she has high praise for and feels has a complimentary style of play.

"She is really aggressive and I stand consistent. I will set her up and she will finish the point. She fights really hard," Villemond said.

Other than citing her parents as life influences and positive reinforcement, Villemond is thankful for what women's coach Jennifer Gabou has done for her.

"The level that Jennifer brought me to has helped me to find my limits. She let me know how far I can take this. She knows what to say and when to bring you up when you are down or behind," said Villemond.

Gabou is now in her second season as head coach at FGCU and helped Florida win a national championship in 2003 with a 31-2 overall record.

"She knows the best way to motivate every player on the team, and used to play on the pro tour so, she knows what she's talking about," Villemond said.

When not playing tennis and training, Villemond likes to watch "Grey's Anatomy," eat French food and loves the color pink.

The motivated 23-year-old still wants to play after college and plans on playing in the WTA Futures after school.

Villemond has helped the women's tennis team win three consecutive conference matches. The Eagles travel to face Campbell on Thursday and No. 75 USC Upstate Saturday.
© Copyright 2010 Eagle News