Arizona tennis must have plucked a four-leaf clover to get Dublin native Susan Mc Rann.
Since she was eight years old, the now-college senior participated in many other sports besides tennis.
Before falling for tennis Mc Rann played an Irish stick-and-ball game played only by women called Camogie. From there, she played field hockey and swam but eventually she fell in love with tennis and devoted all of her time to that sport.
“I just love the atmosphere on the tennis court,” Mc Rann said. “That feeling you get when you have a good shot and then look back at your teammates and they are happy and you are happy, you just feel that incredible team pride. Nothing can beat that. It’s the best atmosphere.”
Traveling alone the 5,000 miles from Dublin to Tucson, Mc Rann ventured to America for her first time to attend the University of Arizona. During the past four years, Mc Rann has had tremendous successes during her collegiate tennis career.
“I can easily recall two times when Susan single-handedly won a huge match for us,” said volunteer assistant coach James Rosborough. “First, over Loyola Marymount and then again over Minnesota where she won the fourth point.”
Mc Rann has also had the opportunity to accompany the team twice to compete in the national championships. During both of those years, however, the team fell short of qualifying for the prestigious Sweet Sixteen.
“That’s our goal this year: Sweet Sixteen,” Mc Rann said. “There is a lot more heart this year. This is the best Arizona team the coaches and spectators have seen in the past years. I think we have the potential to go the farthest.”
Mc Rann has also put together a 3.6 GPA and will graduate from the Eller College of Management this May, with an accounting and finance specialization.
“I always tell Susan that I think she may be one of the most intelligent people in this school,” Rosborough said.
Being so far from her home, Mc Rann treats her tennis team as her family. Rosborough has been one of the most significant people to Mc Rann during her time in Arizona.
“Rozz [nickname for Rosborough] has been fantastic for me and always there when I needed him,” Mc Rann said. “I think for every match over the past four years, he has been there enforcing belief in myself and positivity.”
The two met when Mc Rann was a freshman about to begin her collegiate tennis career. According to Rosborough, one thing about Mc Rann is that she is consistently reliable with her personality and hard work ethic.
“[Mc Rann] has a rock solid personality with very few fluctuations with a good day or a bad day,” Rosborough said. “She would try hard and work hard, whether it was in the weight room, in school or on the court. This was every single day, day in and day out. Just always there ready to work.”
Rosborough said that the best thing about working with Mc Rann was seeing her grow and develop on and off the court.
“The amazing thing is seeing her develop from a quiet, reserved girl to get to the point this year where she is now bouncing around the court, smiling, laughing and joking around with everyone,” Rosborough said.
This weekend is Mc Rann’s last home game as an Arizona tennis player.
“As a senior, this is going to be an emotional day for everyone,” Mc Rann said. “We’re going to go in with lots of energy, be positive, try to keep the emotions low and leave everything on the court.”
—Follow Zoe Wolkowitz @zowolko
