Iowa State tennis player Kendra Leese has earned her share of personal awards and accomplishments on the tennis court. It’s been the same story off the court as well.

Leese is currently in her fourth year of playing in the Cyclone lineup. She has held the No. 2 singles spot and has a 14-11 record with Kristin Gyaki at No. 2 doubles.

Being a senior, Leese is savoring her last go-round and is looking for a strong finish.

“I can’t say that I’m totally pleased with the season, but I’ve been playing well lately. I’m looking forward to ending the season on a good note. There’s some mixed emotions, and I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself because it’s my senior year,” Leese said.

The Cyclones have struggled against strong competition in the Big 12 Conference this season. Leese is ready to do her part to turn the season around.

One match that Leese is looking forward to, in particular, is the April 21 matchup with Missouri.

“We’ve had some tough matches this year, and hopefully we’ll come away with a few more wins. We have matches coming up that I think we can win including Missouri who’s a big rival, and I hope to play well in that match,” said Leese.

Four years in the Cyclone program has paid dividends for Leese’s game, and she noticed the change.

“I’ve matured a lot as a player, and I’ve added some tools to my game and learned strategy. I’ve learned to play a lot more aggressive than I did when I came in here,” Leese said.

Leese is the lone upperclassman on the Cyclone roster which has earned her the job of senior leader and is in her second year as team captain.

Leese takes the role seriously and tries to lead by example.

“That has been my role since I’m the only upperclassman. It’s really important to me to set a good example and feel like I’m doing a good job leading the team and helping any way I can,” Leese said.

Cyclone coach Michelle Conlon has recognized the leadership role Leese has played and has high praise for her senior.

“Kendra has provided tremendous leadership for us but she was a leader the minute she walked in the door as a freshman. She has a positive attitude and is a hard worker and has been a great influence on our program,” Conlon said.

Making her final year more exciting is the arrival of Leese’s younger sister Courtney, who’s a freshman on the team.

The two sisters grew up playing together and won a state doubles title in high school at Bettendorf in 1996.

“It’s awesome having Courtney on the team. We’re very close and have been playing together for a long time. She’s kind of a built-in practice partner for me,” Leese said.

Juggling academics and athletics and making time for both areas is one of the toughest parts of being a student athlete but Leese has no problems.

“We pretty much go all year, so it’s a year-round challenge with academics and tennis, but it hasn’t been that bad. I have pretty good time management skills so it hasn’t been a problem for me,” Leese said.

Leese has been on the Big 12 Academic team her first three years and has also earned academic All-American status. She has also been on the Dean’s List six times and is a member of the ISU Honors Program.

Leese sports a versatile off-court portfolio as she is also involved in the Greek system and is a member of the Student/Athlete Advisory Council.

“I’ve had a very well rounded experience here at Iowa State. I really like being involved in SAAC and the Greek system,” said Leese. “Coach Conlon has made sure I’ve had a great experience and I appreciate her for that.”

Despite her eligibility ending at the end of the season, Leese is planning on graduating next May and will continue to help the team through next season.

Conlon will appreciate having Leese around for another season as a strong influence.

“I think that anytime you have a person with Kendra’s qualities, it’s always good to have her around. She’s represented what college athletics is all about and set the standard for this program. I’m the luckiest coach around to have had the chance to coach her,” Conlon said.