Olson left Missoula Sentinel with a 96-0 record in singles play and four Class AA state championships.
She's rapidly approaching the end of her collegiate career for national powerhouse Texas. The 30th-ranked Longhorns (15-9) fell to Baylor, 4-3, in last week's Big 12 championship, but received an at-large berth into the NCAA tournament, where they'll face 34th-ranked UC Irvine on May 12 in Los Angeles. A win would send the Horns up against No. 8 USC the next day.
As a sophomore, Olson helped Texas reach the NCAA championship, where the Longhorns fell to Stanford. They finished that season as the third-ranked team in the country.
An early elementary education major with a minor in communications, Olson completes her eligibility this season and will finish up her degree with another year in Austin.
Q. How do you feel about your draw for the NCAAs?
A. I think it's a good draw. We really didn't know what to expect. It's a tough one to be down there at USC if we win against Irvine - or when we do. We really have nothing to lose. I think we're in a good place, we're all really pumped up and playing well.
Q. Tell me how your senior season has gone so far.
A. It's gone amazing and too fast. I kind of wish I could have slowed it down a little. I'm having so much fun playing out there. This is probably one of my most fun years I've had of tennis. I really feel like it's fun again. I feel like I never lost the passion for the game. Every time I go out there I'm fighting my butt off to get the win and enjoying it.
Q. How would you rate your career at Texas?
A. It's been an interesting one. We switched coaches halfway (from Jeff Moore to Patty Fendick-McCain). Our first coach retired. It was great with him, we made it to the national championship, which was an experience I will never, ever forget. We were the underdogs there. It was an amazing run. I've had so many great times. I feel like I've grown not only as a tennis player, but as a person. It's been amazing. I'm going to miss tennis so much.
Q. Coming out of high school with a 96-0 record, was it a difficult adjustment to get accustomed to the tougher competition?
A. It really wasn't, just because I knew what I was getting into. Playing juniors from the time I was 10, I was prepared for that. Most of stuff I did out of state, in the national tournaments, was unbelievable competition and helped my confidence, knowing I could compete with those types of players. It was a little nerve-wracking at first as a freshman. I remember it to this day, wondering, ‘What am I doing here?' Then you get used to things. As a freshman, you don't know, you just go out there firing away. It was just a matter of time before I got the hang of things and felt like I belonged here. It's been awesome.
Q. Are you happy you chose Texas? If so, why?
A. I wouldn't change it for the world. I love it. I knew it the second I took a recruiting trip here. Most of all it was the people. The girls on the team were amazing, the town was amazing, the coaches, the support from the university from the academic services, the athletic services - just everything. The pride of the school and the tradition of Texas athletics is unbelievable. I knew I wanted to be a part of that. And the people of Austin are just amazing. In a way it reminded me a little of Missoula in a larger form - a fun, weird, college town. It made me feel at home right away.
Q. What role will tennis play in your life after college?
A. I know for a fact that I will miss it so much. I think next year I might play some intramural basketball. I also actually thought of taking up running marathons. I used to run the Bank Run. I think I'd love to get back into that. I'm doing a lot of tennis camps this summer, so maybe I'll end up coaching or teaching lessons. I feel like I'll always be connected to the sport in some way because I'll miss it too much. I'm glad I got to this point and can still say that without ever getting burnt out on it.
Lightning round
Toughest opponent you've faced?
Stanford, as a team, sophomore year. It was awesome that we got to do it at the national championship.
Most satisfying individual win?
There have been a few Texas A&M matches that were really exciting. This year we played them at home, my last senior match and I pulled out a 7-5 in the third to set us up for winning, 4-3. Another one was national indoors last year. We were playing Duke in the semis and it came down to my match and I won. That was pretty exciting.
Best team win?
Definitely my sophomore year, the semis beating Florida, 4-3, to make the championship. That was unbelievable.
Best Big 12 city? Why?
Not College Station (Texas A&M), for sure. We went to Kansas City for the Big 12 tournament, there's no Big 12 school there but it's a really cool town. Boulder, Colo., is always a fun place to go to, but Austin all the way.
Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal?
Oh Federer, no contest.
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