Samford sophomore psychology major Sara Erenda is making the most of her time as a student-athlete, balancing a rigorous academic schedule with the demands of competing at the Division I level in tennis. Through her hard work and support of the Samford community, Erenda is charting a path to success both on and off the court.
Hailing from Hall in Tirol, Austria, tennis has been a lifelong passion for Erenda, dating back to her earliest childhood memories.
“I first got involved in tennis when I was in kindergarten,” Erenda said. “I’ve always been a very active child who loved trying out all the sports equipment at the store while my parents were shopping.”
Although she initially participated in swimming, skiing, volleyball and handball, tennis quickly emerged as her favorite.
“When practice schedules started overlapping, I realized that tennis was the one sport I simply couldn’t quit because I loved it so much,” Erenda said. “I enjoyed traveling to other countries to compete in tournaments and reconnect with my friends who were also my opponents.”
When considering colleges, Samford stood out for its academic reputation, beautiful campus and supportive tennis program led by head coach David Vest.
“He has a team full of hard-working people and wonderful human beings,” Erenda said.
Balancing academics and athletics has not always been easy, but Erenda credits the supportive environment at Samford for helping her stay on track.
“Sometimes I find myself a little bit behind in my classes after traveling over the weekends, but the professors here are very supportive and understanding,” she said. “Whenever I have to reschedule exams or ask for extra time, they are more than happy to find a way to make it work.”
Additionally, her interest in psychology has fueled her academic journey.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the human mind, the incredible power of our thoughts and how much we can influence with them,” she said. “Even though I love both tennis and psychology, the support of everyone at Samford means so much to me.”
Looking ahead, Erenda has clear goals for the remainder of her time at Samford.
“Athletically, I want to keep improving my fitness and my game to help my team succeed,” she said. “Academically, I want to learn more about psychology while also gaining a deeper understanding of the business field. My goal is to combine these two areas to be well-prepared for a career after college.”
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