Faith, Family, and Competition Drive Tennis Freshman

South Carolina women’s tennis freshman Jane Dunyon has traveled the world to train and compete. The Utah native chose South Carolina because she felt like the program gave her the best chance to continue to do that in the future on the professional tour.

“The biggest thing was the coaches,” said Dunyon. “I love (head coach) Kevin (Epley). He is a great coach and has been around the game for a long time. He knows so much about the game, and I really think he can help get me to the next level. He has taught so many players in the past that have gone pro, and he knows how to get your game to the next level.”

Dunyon started playing tennis when she was five years old as two of her older sisters also played, including one sister Jacque, who played collegiately at BYU. She competed in a lot of other sports as a youngster, including basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and golf before focusing solely on tennis.

“I was really good at a lot of sports. I have trophies in every sport,” Dunyon said with a giggle. “I love tennis. I love the individual part of it where all the pressure is on me. If I win, it’s on me. If I lose, it’s on me. I loved playing a sport that I could travel for outside of just a state.”

Dunyon has since traveled the world for training and competing. At just 14 years old she decided to move to California to compete and train after finding a host family with which to live. A year later, she went on a training trip to Nice, France, with her father (Dave) and after performing very well, she decided that was the next stop on her path for the training academy there.

“I lived in France for a year,” Dunyon said. “They offered me a spot on their junior pro team there for that next school year. When I was 16, I spent the whole school year there.”

That allowed for even more travel for competitions as she not only played all over France, but also in Austria, Estonia, Africa, and Germany. After that, she and her dad traveled for more competitions in Egypt, Greece, and Canada.

“My parents are amazing and have been very supportive,” Dunyon said. “My dad is my best friend. He’s my tennis coach, my fitness coach, and my nutritionist. He’s everything. I’ve spent so much time with him over the years. We’ve traveled together to so many places.

“My mom (Jennifer) has been a huge impact on my life as well. She has been nothing but supportive in everything I’ve ever done and has always stood by my side to help me in any possible way she can. She is the most positive person I’ve ever met, and she really has helped me become the person I am today.”

Having spent so much time far away from home, one might think going back across the country for college would be an easy decision, but there are certainly adjustments to be made.

“Of course, I miss my family a lot because they’re my best friends, and I’m super-close with them, but I love it here,” Dunyon said. “The workload is a lot, too. Balancing tennis, school, and college life in general is a lot more than I was used to.”

Part of that adjustment comes from being online schooled for the previous six years. She had to also adjust to being part of team.

“I’ve never been on a team before, so that’s been an adjustment, too,” Dunyon said. “This is what I expected though. It’s tough. The competition is really tough. The competition on the team is great, and the girls on the team are all great. You’re always being pushed in practice, but it’s great because that means the improvement level is really high.”

While her family has supported BYU for all of her life, coming to a place where the Mormon religion isn’t as widespread as back home, Dunyon is comfortable at South Carolina and is steadfast in her faith.

“My faith very important to me not just because I’ve been raised in that type of household, but I’ve also grown up to find my own testimony and why I believe in what I believe in,” Dunyon said. “I came to college, and I know who I am. I don’t drink. I don’t party, and I don’t do stuff that maybe a lot of other people do, but I’m proud of that and OK with that. There are so many fun things to do here.

“My parents were so supportive of me coming here. I’m still going to church every Sunday here, too. If you’re willing to put in the effort anywhere you go for it, you can find it. It doesn’t have to be where it’s easiest.

“We have a very young team here, and we have a very bright future. I just want us to win. Whichever position I am placed, I want to be there for the team. I want us to win everything.”