Women's Tennis

2022-23: Second-team All-South Atlantic Conference (doubles)... Finished with team-best 23-7 record in singles, including 16-6 in dual matches and 9-3 in SAC contests... Went 7-3 at flight five and 5-3 at flight six... Had 14 6-0 set wins, including 6-0, 6-0 victories over Ghita Courdi of Bluefield State (Feb. 22) and Emily Syms of UVA Wise (Mar. 26)... Finished 2-0 in three-set matches and 0-2 in super tiebreakers... Had 18-7 record in doubles play, with a 16-6 record in dual matches and a perfect 11-0 mark in SAC matches... Was 8-5 at flight two and 7-1 at flight three... Teamed with Elodie Baechler for a 13-5 doubles record, including 10-0 in conference matches... College Sports Communicators All-District Team... ITA All-Academic Team.

2021-22: Shared team lead in singles victories with a 19-7 overall record, and went 18-7 in doubles play... Tied for team lead with 14-6 singles record in dual matches, and had 13-5 doubles record... Finished 8-4 in conference play in singles and 8-3 in doubles... Opened fall with five straight singles wins in tournament play... Won seven matches in a row from February 12 through March 1... Went 2-2 in matches that went to three sets or a tiebreaker... Rallied for 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) win vs. North Georgia (March 25)... Won 10 sets by a 6-0 score... In doubles, had four striaght wins to open the spring (Feb. 12-22), and won five in a row from March 7-April 2... Went 9-3 in doubles with Emilie Hansen, all at flight three, and was 5-1 with Rory Church... Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award... ITA All-Academic Team.

2020-21: Finished with a 2-4 record in singles and a 2-1 mark in doubles... Earned first victory with a 6-1, 6-2 win vs. Milligan (Feb. 17)... Claimed 6-4, 6-0 win vs. Limestone (April 7)... In doubles, teamed with sister, Paulina, for wins over Milligan (6-1) on Feb. 17 and at Anderson (6-2) on Feb. 27... ITA All-Academic Team.

High School: Graduated from Tecnologico de Monterrey... Earned Academic Award all years... Coached by Chris Letcher, Eduard Urbanic and Miguel Ortega.

Personal: Born Feb. 15, 2003 in Metepec, Mexico... Nickname: "Val"... Daughter of Fritz Loretz Ruiz and Nadia Mejia Ayala... Siblings - Paulina (18), Hanna (15), Paris (10), Caroline (6)... Twin sister, Paulina, is a member of the Pioneer women's tennis team... Majoring in political science... SAC Commissioners Honor Roll... Athletic Director's Honor Roll... Future plans: A 4.0 GPA, internships and a well-paying job... Hobbies and activities: Drawing, running... Favorite movie: "Flipped"; Favorite class at Tusculum: American Government; Favorite midnight snack: Rice Krispy treats... Favorite movie: "Cinderella"; Favorite musical artist: Lewis Capaldi; Favorite song: "Train Wreck"; Valentina can't imagine a week without: Talking with her family; Favorite athlete: Maria Sharapova; Valentina's advice to kids: "Dreams do come true. Perfect practice makes perfect"; Favorite color: Pink; Favorite food: Sushi; Most famous person Valentina has ever met: Stan Wawrinka.