Alexa Lee comes from a family of athletes. Her mom played volleyball at Texas State. Her dad is an “all around athlete.” Her twin brothers played tennis for UC Davis. It’s fitting, then, that in a family of talented competitors, the Cal Poly women’s tennis player would also shine in the sports arena.
Lee, a history sophomore, plays on the women’s tennis team. Lee has the potential for a “breakout season,” head coach Hugh Bream said. After losing a talented class of senior players last year, Bream knew other people would step up and take the lead — Lee was one of them.
“What’s really neat about college sports is that when you lose senior leadership, it opens a door for the next person to step up,” Bream said. “Alexa has really embraced the role of leader on the court — she’s consistent and always positive.”
Lee’s evolution from an “uncomfortable” and “tense” freshman, to an experienced college athlete has enabled her to take on a leadership role.
“Alexa worked hard and really built a great foundation last year,” Bream said. “This season she’s much more confident and comfortable on the court.”
Lee agrees with her coach. She said as one of only two freshmen on the team last year, she often felt overwhelmed and afraid of making mistakes. Feelings of apprehension and uneasiness are not a problem for Lee this year, she said.
“I’m not the youngest on the team anymore — this year we have four freshman, and I have the chance to mentor them the way my teammates did for me last year … that’s helped me loosen up and feel more comfortable,” Lee said.
Lee also accredits her transformation as a player in part to the guidance of teammates. One such teammate is Lee’s current doubles partner, senior Amy Markhoff.
Markhoff said, she has more experience playing tennis at the collegiate level, so the role of mentor “makes sense” in that respect. Other than that, Markhoff doesn’t feel as if she knows more than Lee just because of her seniority. “I value her opinion and game just as much as she values mine.”
Markhoff and Lee have been doubles partners since fall 2010, and in Markhoff’s opinion, “work really well together,” which is evidenced by their national ranking: No. 63.
Lee has the same feelings about the pairing.
“Amy is more intense and high energy,” she said. “I keep more quiet and calm. It works for us.”
Bream said the calmness Lee referred to is her greatest asset.
“Alexa is completely composed for 90 percent of the time, and the other 10 percent she fakes … she knows she cannot afford to show her opponents her weaknesses,” Bream said.
Lee’s composure is what first attracted Bream to her when she was in high school. He recruited Lee from La Quinta High School in Bermuda Dunes, Calif. After watching her play and getting to know her and her family, Bream knew Lee would be a good match for the Cal Poly tennis team.
“So many things about Alexa impressed me, especially her level-head on the court,” Bream said. “Then, the more obvious things of course — she was athletic … great footwork and she hits a clean tennis ball.”
For Lee, choosing Cal Poly was a decision she didn’t take lightly. Although Saint Mary’s, UC Irvine, University of San Francisco and Cal Poly all recruited Lee, Cal Poly stood out.
“I just love it here — the area, the school,” Lee said. “In the end, I knew I wanted to be somewhere I would still want to be if I got injured, or if something with tennis went wrong.”
Lee’s tennis career is not going wrong, though; quite the opposite — it’s soaring. But with great success comes great pressure and expectations. In Lee’s case, however, she tries hard not to focus on the negatives.
“It would be awesome to be in the rankings, but I can’t think about it like that,” Lee said. “I have to take it one match at a time. Being the underdog isn’t as scary as it is inspiring — it makes me work harder.”