Inspired by her father’s love of tennis, senior Elise Chen was long determined to play the sport at the collegiate level. In November 2025, she committed to play Division III tennis at The University of Chicago.
As a child, Chen focused primarily on competitive dance, as tennis was more of a fun hobby she played with her father. At 12, Chen decided to step away from dance and pursue tennis. “I liked [playing tennis] a lot more than dance, so I started training harder and playing more tournaments.”
At the start of her junior year, Chen faced a tough decision during the recruiting process. Considering both the strength of the sports program and academic rigor, Chen was stuck between pursuing Division I and Division III. “I’m really indecisive,” Chen said. “I was talking to the UCs, some Ivy League schools and some [DIII] schools. That’s probably why the process went really long for me.”
As she began receiving offers, Chen narrowed her options down to Columbia University, the University of California San Diego and UChicago. “My offer from UChicago came much later,” Chen said. “It definitely wasn’t my first.” Ultimately, Chen picked UChicago for its campus and the balance of a strong tennis program and academics.
Chen has been a reliable presence on the Menlo girls tennis team since her freshman season. “On the court, you never know if Elise is winning or losing because she always remains so calm and collected,” Chen’s teammate Sulia Gayle said. “Off the court, she is always so supportive and dedicated to the team.”
“I’m so proud of Elise because I’ve seen how hard she works, and I think there is no one more deserving,” junior teammate Sophia Jia said.
Chen was also able to meet the girls on the team, which she said helped her feel that UChicago was the right place. “I really like the girls on the team, especially the incoming freshmen,” Chen said. “They recruited five girls, and I knew them from previous tournaments, and they’re all amazing.”
