Feb. 6, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Kristin Chamberlain is the lone senior on the 2008-09 Memphis women's tennis squad. She is a Memphis-native and played her high school tennis at St. Agnes Academy. Chamberlain is the daughter of former Memphis men's tennis head coach Phil Chamberlain. Her father coached the Tiger men's tennis team from 1999-04. He was also a former Memphis tennis player, competing at the U of M from 1973-76. He was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame in 1988. The younger Chamberlain originally decided to attend Cleveland State before transferring to Memphis for her junior year.

As the only senior on the team, what kind of leadership role have you tried to take on?
"I just try to be a leader on and off of the tennis court. You have to know when to get on some of the players. There is quite an age difference to most of the other players on the team so since I have been playing tennis at this level for the longest, I try to use the knowledge I have gained to help them out."

You originally decided to attend and play tennis at Cleveland State University, what brought you back to Memphis to play tennis?
"I had heard that Lee Taylor Walker, a former player for my dad when he was coach here, had taken the job as head coach of the women's team. I was sort of looking to leave Cleveland State because it was cold up there and I was missing my family. Coming back to Memphis allowed me to be near my family. At first I was concerned with the type of schedule we would be playing at Memphis, but Coach Walker assured me that we would be playing a high level of competition, which excited me."

You are the daughter of a former Memphis tennis player and former men's tennis coach and your brother played at Memphis, what does it mean for you to have the opportunity to play tennis at Memphis?
"It is just awesome to get the chance to be the third one in my family to play tennis at Memphis. With my dad being the coach here and playing here and my brother playing here, it is just great to get the opportunity."

What is your outlook on the team this season. What do you think about the team's progress so far three matches into the season?
"This is a totally different team then we were even two or three weeks ago. I just really think we have a good team this year and that we are going to surprise some people. We have a big road trip coming up to UAB and Samford and I don't think they know what they are getting themselves in to. I really think we have a good chance to surprise those two teams, as well as a lot of other teams on our schedule. "

What are your plans after you graduate from the U of M?
"My major is advertising. I actually have a job interview coming up with Disney, so I am really hoping to get a job with them."

What have you tried to do off of the court to be a successful student-athlete?
"It just takes a lot of multi-tasking. Sometimes that means studying really late and waking up early for practice but that is just part of being a student-athlete."

What do you enjoy doing off of the tennis court? Do you play any other sports, have any other hobbies?
"I really enjoy playing golf. I played it in high school and I still enjoy it. I also played soccer in high school. Another thing I enjoy doing is going for runs at Shelby Farms. It is just really beautiful out there. Sometimes I will even just go out there to study. "

What are some of the things you have learned from your dad and brother that you try to apply to playing tennis?
"One of my dad's favorite lines to tell me was teamwork makes the dream work. Even though tennis is an individual sport, it is still all about the team. Everything starts with the team. Even if you aren't doing well as an individual it is your job as a team member to help the other people out by cheering them on and helping them out off of the court."

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