University of Houston Athletics
Behind the Scenes - Despoina Vogasari
4/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
(Editor's Note: As the Houston Tennis team prepares for NCAA Tournament play, UHCougars.com sat down with several members of the team for an inside look at their lives as student-athletes. Today's Q&A is with sophomore Despoina Vogasari, who in October won the USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championship, a first in program history.)
UHCougars.com: How did you start playing tennis?
Despoina Vogasari: I come from a very athletic family, and when I was younger, my older brother started playing tennis and I had to go along with him. I used to run around picking up the balls, and I really enjoyed being on the court. So my parents took me to my first tennis lessons and it went from there. I think it's thanks to my brother that I picked up a racquet. I didn't take it seriously until I was a bit older, when I started playing more and more.
UHCougars.com: How do you unwind when you are not on the court or in the classroom?
DV: I really enjoy being around people and socializing, and I love to go shopping. I think it's really important in college that you make an effort to make friends and spend time with people, especially other athletes from different teams.
UHCougars.com: If you didn't play tennis, what do you think you would you be doing now?
DV: Probably, a ballerina! (laughs) It's hard to imagine my life without tennis because that is all I've been doing since I was five years old. I don't think I'm very talented in anything else! I really like London, and I have a lot of friends who study there, so I would probably be studying and living there. I'm not exactly sure what I would be doing though!
UHCougars.com: What is the main difference from your home country of Greece compared to the USA?
DV: Where do I start? First, the food is a lot different. The food is much tastier in Greece. Secondly the scenery is a lot prettier, with a lot of idyllic beaches. The culture is much more different... the way people think, act and their mind set is surprisingly really different! I'm still trying to adapt to the American way.
UHCougars.com: What do you love about Houston?
DV: It's such a lively big city with so much stuff to do; you can never be bored in Houston! I am a pretty active person, so I don't think I would adapt very well in a small college town. Every week there is something going on with so many activities and new places to go. It's such a fun place to live!
UHCougars.com: You're nearly halfway through your time here at Houston and you're about to be one of the upperclassman. Is that a scary thought?
DV: Oh yes, it's a very scary feeling! It seems like yesterday that I was going into my dorm, unpacking and fixing my room and I was thinking to myself, "Oh this is going to be my home for the next 4 years!" My teammates keep joking with me that I'm going to be an upperclassman, and it's starting to hit home how quickly my time here is going by. You don't realize it when people tell you, but the time really does fly by. It's also really exciting at the same time, and I wouldn't change a thing. I love Houston, I love UH, and I love my teammates, but I do wish it would slow down a bit because these are the best years of my life!
UHCougars.com: As the number one player on the team & number one doubles, do you feel any pressure when you step on the court?
DV: Yes, there is a lot pressure. Especially in my freshman year, when I was the youngest player on the team and playing number one in the line-up, I didn't know exactly how college tennis worked. I feel like my teammates look up to me, and I have to be the strongest one on the team even if things aren't going well on my court. It's a tough spot, but I really enjoy being the person who my teammates look up to on court.
--UHCougars.com--
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH HOUSTON TENNIS
April 24: Elena Kordolaimi
April 27: Despoina Vogasari
Players Mentioned
