"Jing Jing is a coach's dream," said BYU-Hawaii Head TennisCoach Dave Porter.
Coach Porter hasn't been the only one to praise the Lady Seasider'sNo. 1-ranked Jing Jing Liu of Changsha, China.
Liu is currently number one in the nation in Division II tennis. Last season he was named Division II "Player of the Year."
Liu has yet to lose in singles or doubles this year and is already starting off the 2006 season undefeated which has helped her team stay undefeated as well.
In her career at BYU-Hawaii, Liu has always played exceptionally well. She has never lost in singles. Her only defeat came in a doubles match—and that was against a Division I team from Arizona where she played without her regular doubles partner.
Both on and off the cours, even teammates have commented on Liu's example. "She is very nice on the court," said Ramon Husaru, Lui's doubles partner and a freshman majoring in English as an International Language (EIL). "She never gets upset with me when I make an error during the match. From what I've noticed, she's friends with everybody and never argues with anyone."
Coach Porter said that Liu's hard-working attitude is something she takes into the classroom.
"Liu takes her education very seriously," he said, referring to the fact that she is a double-major of Hospitality & Tourism Management and EIL. Porteralso said that in addition to her studies and tennis, Liu works part-time and is a model citizen on campus.
Back in her home country, Liu's former teammates have gone on to major success, including an Olympic gold medal and a Grand Slam doubles title at this years' Australian Open. Liu is happy for her old teammates, but has no regrets about leaving China to come to BYU-Hawaii.
Before joining the Seasiders, Liu played junior tennis against some of today's biggest names. She had the opportunity to play Maria Sharapova—the 2004Wimbledon Champion, currently ranked number four in the world. Liu played her three times and won all three matches.
Liu's abilities have helped the team greatly. Both her and her teammates hope that they will have another chance to win the national title this year.
Liu's statistics (beginning in 2003 and ending in with the progress of the 2006seasonthus far):
2003-04 singles: 26-0, 6-0 at No. 1; 20-0 at No. 2 singles
2003-04 doubles: 22-0
2004-05 singles: 20-0, 15-0 at No. 1; 5-0 at No. 2 singles
2004-05 doubles: 18-0
2005-06 singles: 5-0, 3-0 at No. 1; 2-0 in tournaments
2005-06 doubles: 3-1 (loss at Rainbow Invitational)