Five freshmen joined the Penn women's tennis team this past fall. They've come from as far as California, as well as reigning from New York and Massachusetts. Though young, this group has brought some of the best talent in the country to the city of Philadelphia. One of those impressive freshmen is Julia Koulbitskaya.

Koulbitskaya, from Locust Valley, N.Y., who garnered the number one ranking in the East for girls under 18, came to Penn boasting an international singles ranking of 278 and in her specialty, doubles, an international ranking of 159. In order to obtain such a ranking requires immense amounts of talent and drive, as well as travel around the country and the world.

"[Coming to Penn] has been a huge change for me in the sense that in the past four years of my life I didn't have a permanent location,” said Koulbitskaya of her rigorious travel schedule. “I went to five high schools in four years in different parts of the country.” She is looking forward to enjoying four years of competition based in one city.

Koulbitskaya is looking toward her four years at Penn as a time to not only improve her game, but also to make great friends and be part of a supportive team. It is this team, especially the upperclassmen, that have been helping her adjust from the individual-oriented world of juniors to the focus on the team performance as a group.

Koulbiskaya described the feel of the team environment vividly, “Dual matches, especially, every single ball counts that much more and you never feel like you are playing alone. Its like you and your whole team are across the net from everyone on the other team."

The change to the team environment, however, doesn't appear to have affected Koulbitskaya’s ability to win. She already boasts a strong singles win over Penn State at the No. 1 position, as well as some tough-fought doubles matches with fellow freshman Michelle Mitchell.
As for the team’s success this season, Koulbitskaya believes that the Quakers have strong potential to win the Ivies. And as a personal goal, she hopes to make the NCAA's this year "more than anything."

There is no doubt that Koulbitskaya’s rigorous practice over the years and innate skill have been the primary factors in her success, but another important factor for her as been the support of her family. Her parents, Mariana Koulbitskaya and Alexander Esman, both world class figure skaters, have been amazing role models for her in all her athletic pursuits.

"All of my work ethic has derived from watching them in both life an sport," she said.

There is an athletic gift in Koulbitskaya’s family, one that she eagerly looks forward to continuing on the courts this season.

~Written by Tyler Pearce, a junior in the College