Each month, Drake Athletics and the Principal Financial Group features one of the Bulldogs' international student-athletes. This month, Joely Lomas of women's tennis is the featured international student-athlete.
 
Lomas is a freshman and enrolled at Drake in January, 2016. She currently has a combined 12-7 doubles and singles record. Lomas is originally from Swansea, Wales.
 
Why did you choose to come to the United States to play tennis?
            "As a British tennis player, it is a common thing to come to the United States to play tennis because it gives you the opportunity to pursue tennis and your education at the same time."
 
How did you decide on attending Drake?
            "I knew Calum (MacGeoch) and Vinny (Gillespie) from the men's tennis team and through them I heard about Drake. It's reassuring to have friends here but when I came on my recruitment trip I really bonded well with the team. That was a major influence for me, the people, because obviously, as a student-athlete, you are spending a lot of time with the team. I think it's very important to get along with your teammates because that leads to success on the court."
 
What do you plan to study and how do you plan to use that degree in the future?
            "I haven't declared a major at the moment, but I'm thinking about majoring in Spanish and/or international business or relations. I'm part Spanish so I would like to work abroad, maybe in America, but on the coasts where more Spanish is spoken."
 
What are your goals for the future in both tennis and academics?
            "For tennis, I, as well as probably the whole team, would like to be ranked. Hopefully we can be in the top 40 and I think that is doable for us. Academically, I want to pursue my degree here at Drake."
 
Why tennis? How were you first introduced to the sport?
"I started tennis at quite a young age at three or four years old. My brother played tennis and like most siblings, I wanted to be like him. I played in a school competition and got scouted from that and they said I had a natural talent. So I pursued tennis."
 
What are your favorite aspects about tennis? Least favorite?
            "Before college, all tennis is an individual sport and I think that is very difficult and that is why a lot of people don't make it past the age of 15. It's so hard because you are on your own all the time. But, coming to college, it becomes a big team environment and you support each other all the time. It's great having that support behind you. I also love the competitive side of tennis and is one of the main reasons I pursued it."
 
How is the transition from playing junior tennis to collegiate tennis?
            "I think I have found the transition quite hard. I came to school a week late and I was still really jet-lagged two days before my first match. I still don't feel like I'm playing my best tennis yet, but I'm improving everyday. It's something to keep working towards and hopefully by next semester I will be playing at my best."
 
What are some challenges you face both on and off the court?
            "Off the court, I have to balance my studies. I've always had to do that, but it's easier here because everything is on one campus and in the same place and you do it with the same people. But it is still a challenge to balance your studies and play tennis at the same time. On the court, for me, I find it difficult to focus for long periods of times; I've also found it hard in the classroom, too. But I think I am definitely improving on that. Like I said, it's great having a team environment. You're doing it for them as well as yourself."
 
What are some differences in playing tennis in the United States than in England?
            "I've only ever played junior tennis prior to coming to Drake and the support in collegiate tennis is much different. You are allowed to make more noise and I definitely perform better with a crowd and a team around me. The courts here are a lot different, here they are quicker and it took me some time to adjust but it suits my game style. The main challenge is adjusting to new things, like having that support on the court."
 
What are some differences in lifestyle between the United States and England?
            "The culture is very different, for example the food. I'm not a of American food. That's one thing I would like to see as an improvement on campus is having better food and healthier options. A lot of people here are very nice and welcoming and it made my transition easier. I defiantly think that has helped me settle in and one of the reasons I chose to attend Drake."
 
What activities do you partake in outside of tennis?
            "I love sports. My family is big into rugby, which is the national sport of Wales. I love watching all sports, but especially rugby. Back home, I used to run a bit of track on the side and I love going to the beach. I surf and wakeboard back home."
 
What are your favorites things about Drake?
            "I love the Knapp Center, it's unbelievable. We don't really have basketball back home like they do here. It's surreal being a part of it. I love going to games and I try to go to as many as I can. I think it is really nice when student-athletes support other sport teams. The other day, Kenya, the other freshman on the team, and I went to see our softball friends play. We had never seen a softball game before so that was pretty cool."
 
What are you looking forward to most this season?
            "I'm definitely excited for conference play. Hopefully we can win the conference."