Early starts are nothing new for ISU freshman tennis player Jenna Langhorst. On the day of a match, she makes sure to arrive at the court much earlier than most other opponents.

“I’m usually there an hour or an hour and a half earlier before my match,” Langhorst said. “I really like to get that extra work in.”

Another early start for Langhorst has been her start to the 2009 tennis season. Playing in her first collegiate tournament at the Drake Invitational two weekends ago, Langhorst went 4–0 and captured the B-division singles title. Langhorst, who did not lose a set, won 48 games compared to only 13 for her opponents. Langhorst joins sophomore Maria Fernanda Macedo as the only player on the ISU tennis team to have finished the first weekend of competition undefeated in singles play.

Both Langhorst and Macedo also teamed up at Drake to go 2–1 in doubles play. Coach Armando Espinosa said Langhorst creates a difficult matchup for other doubles teams due to her left-handedness.

“Being a leftie, she is able to put different spin on the ball and she has a great backhand,” Espinosa said. “[She] gives us a better chance in doubles matches, which will make us more competitive in the Big 12.”

Langhorst and fellow freshman Ellie Nixon are the only two left-handed players on the Iowa State team.

Hailing from Palatine, Ill., Langhorst placed in the top 10 in the state in each of her four high school seasons. Rated as a four-star recruit in high school by www.tennisrecruiting.net, Langhorst is quickly learning the rigors of the collegiate game.

“College tennis is a lot more physical,” Langhorst said. “You have to be in shape and you have to hit more balls back in a match.”

An all-around athlete in high school, Langhorst also won an individual state title in badminton her senior year and was a member of the state-title winning teams her sophomore and senior years. Langhorst credits her badminton experience in helping her develop better footwork and a strong overhead shot.

In tennis, Langhorst has been known to play a more aggressive style of play, but she is hoping to become more consistent in college.

“I really just want to be a better all-around player and improve all aspects of my game,” Langhorst said.

Espinosa knows that Langhorst will have to work her way to the top of the Cyclone lineup, but being that every point counts in team tennis, Langhorst should be a key contributor to the team this season.

“She was a bit shaky coming into the season as she adjusted to the team, but now she is beginning to improve and it showed last week at Drake,” Espinosa said.