In just her few months at BVH, Soa “Tia” Ainatia Andriamaniraka has been making headlines with every swing of her racket. From winning the Mesa League to competing in CIF, it is safe to say she will be leaving her mark on not only her tennis team, but BVH at large. Andriamaniraka moved to the US only a few months ago from her home country of Madagascar and shared how the United States (US) has become home to her.

“It was a whole culture shock because the US is completely different, but I like [it] here a lot,” Andriamaniraka said. “I am surrounded by really good people. My team is nice, my friends are nice and the teachers are really helpful.”

Andriamaniraka admits that though she has been training less than she is used to, it has not slowed her down. She credits her school training–Barnes Tennis Academy–and the team that surrounds her. Andriamaniraka has been playing tennis competitively for nearly five years. She added how tennis had become part of her life, with influences such as her sister, who also played tennis at BVH in 2014.

“I love playing tennis. The game just keeps me motivated. I have been in the middle of [the game] since I was barely walking. We had tennis courts outside the house and I would train everyday. I just fell in love with it,” Andriamaniraka said. 

Her dedication for the sport has clearly paid off. In this year alone, she has won the Mesa All League Girls Tennis and the Mesa League Player of the Year.

“Winning the Mesa League is a big accomplishment. I feel proud and grateful for all the people who brought me here. So many people are [supporting] me, such as my parents, my coach and my teammates,” Andriamaniraka said. 

Teammate of Andriamaniraka, junior Juliana Martinez, described her as someone who she could always count on and trust. She furthered by explaining how Andriamaniraka is a humble teammate, but she is also vicious on the court.

“Tia is very humble, very kind, but she is [someone who] does not let that affect her game. If she is going to play against someone, she is going to give it her all and she will not show mercy. She contributes to the team by giving us her experiences. She came from a different country and she has completely different training and approaches, but I feel like that is really useful.” Martinez said.

Martinez continued with how Andriamaniraka helps her play on the court. With constant practices and team scrimmages, Martinez appreciated how Andriamaniraka always took the opportunity to make her a better player

“She has helped me so much in my personal tennis game and my mental game,” Martinez said. “She plays aggressive, she takes these shots that are risky and she does great.” 

Junior Alia Armenta shared a similar sentiment. She considers Andriamaniraka a great contribution to the team, by being both a great friend and a great teammate. 

“She is an amazing addition to the team because she is really inspiring and hardworking,” Armenta said. “She is definitely the strongest on the team. She has a good mentality and she has contributed a lot to the team as a person.”

Andriamaniraka’s personality demonstrates that she is not just a key player on the court, but also outside of it. This year, she advanced to quarterfinalist at the CIF Championships, a standout performance that underscores her growth as a competitor. This serves as an opportunity for her to come back even better next year and win it all.

“The game just keeps me motivated,” Andriamaniraka said. “Just tennis in itself.”