College Commitment
Countdown: Xepoleas to the Boilermakers
by Marcia Frost, 20 October 2010
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As a blue chip recruit, Lynda Xepoleas had quite a choice of where to go to school. When she narrowed down her list of schools, the finalists came as a surprise to some. This Southern California girl skipped the PAC-10 and decided to go to the Midwest - specifically Purdue.
The decision to head from Newport Beach to a much colder climate - which is nowhere near an ocean - was made early on. The
Corona del Mar High School senior had her mind set on something different. She wanted to go to Purdue University and wasn't thinking too much away from that.
"I was mostly considering schools that are within the Big Ten," Xepoleas admitted, adding that "Indoor tennis suits my game style."
That game style also suited Lynda Xepoleas on other courts. She has earned her blue chip status with some great wins, and she hasn't backed down at the end of her junior tennis career. In fact, she just won a title at the Dunlop Junior Championships this month. Within the year she had also finished second at a February National Open and picked up third place trophies in a July National Open and at the Roxy Junior Championships, a tournament she had won in the 16s. She also took the consolation draw at the Easter Bowl in that age group.
After all the matches Lynda Xepoleas has played, it's not a recent win that she talks about when asked what stands out as her most memorable moment in the juniors.
"That would have to be the finals in the first National Open that I won in the 14s. I played Caroline Price. In the match I had lost the first set 6-0 and came back to win 0-6, 7-6, 7-6, saving numerous match points in the third set tiebreak."
It's that kind of never give up mentality that made her attractive to the Boilmakers.
The decision to go to Purdue was not something Xepoleas took lightly. In her junior year of high school she took two unofficial visits to look at the university. Then she took her official visit in September before making the final decision. Once everything was weighed, it was clear.
