Before and after matches or practices, freshman Victoria Khanevskaya returns to the Jayhawker Towers, sits down at her computer and makes the connection back home to Moscow through Skype.

On most days, she talks to her dad, who also served as her coach from age 10, when she started playing tennis, until August, when she came to Kansas.

It’s a small connection that makes the nearly 5,800 miles of separation easier.

“If I lost, he asks about the problems,” Khanevskaya said. “If I have trouble in practice, he helps. He is still my coach when I go home. When I went back over break we practiced.”

Being countries away creates obstacles, not only with the changes in environment, but also in dealing with new coaches. But Khanevskaya’s transition has been eased by assistant coach German Dalmagro, whose coaching style is similar to that of her father.

“When I got here and started practicing with coach Dalmagro, it was crazy because he says things just like my dad,” Khanevskaya said. “The first couple days of practice I had to turn around and make sure it was not my dad.”

Dalmagro and Khanevskaya have one major playing style in common: a single-handed backhand. It’s uncommon because of the intense upper arm strength that is necessary and, generally, it’s not the usual style taught to female players.

“I was taught the one-handed backhand and I guess the style that she plays I can relate to well because I grew up on it and I have coached a few players that have that style of game,” Dalmagro said. “So I guess some things that I say she can look back and say, ‘Oh, those are the same things my dad used to say.’”

Khanevskaya, along with Kate Morozova, who hails from Togliatte, Russia, got off to a quick start in competition defeating a doubles team from Georgetown. So far as a doubles team, the pair has gone 3-1.

For the entire fall season, Khanevskaya finished with a 3-5 singles record and a 7-2 doubles record.

“We communicate really well and in doubles communication with your partner is very important,” Morozova said. “We play different ways, but we got together and it has been really good.”

In the fall, Khanevskaya and Morozova were two of four players invited to play at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Tournament. The ITA regional tournament showcases talented college players from around the country.

“When coach first told us I did not understand. Everyone was smiling and screaming, then they told me and I was so emotional,” Khanevskaya said. “It was so unbelievable to be invited as a freshman.”

Khanevskaya went 1-1 in doubles with partner Erin Wilbert, a sophomore from Lafayette, La., and finished 3-5 in singles.

“It feels great to go two years in a row,” Morozova said. “All the players were really good and it is a really good experience to play against them.”

Khanevskaya decided that she didn’t want to play professionally in Russia despite winning the National Russian Tournament and coming in fourth at the Championship of Samara U18 Regional. She wanted to go to a university and play tennis while getting an education after finishing high school with a 4.0 GPA.

“As a university, for me, KU is the best in America,” Khanevskaya said.

Morozova had a similar experience when choosing a college. Part of the reason the pair had such a smooth transition is a result of head coach Amy Hall-Holt and her previous experience with international players.

In the past five years of Hall-Holt’s 13-year tenure the team has featured 10 international athletes.

“It is just contacts I have and results they have had for junior tournaments and rankings. And then sometimes it is word of mouth by former players or current players,” Hall-Holt said. “They also have people over there who help to get their information out.”

There has been a lot of attention on international tennis talent as some of the most recognizable names in professional tennis such as Maria Sharapova and Anna Kournikova have also come from Russia.

“It is becoming really popular in Russia, people are going crazy about tennis,” Morozova said.

Kansas is also one of the few universities that will take students who do not score well on English proficiency tests. For foreign students there is an exam, which includes reading, writing, listening and speaking segments. Kansas focuses on high school GPA results or success in college preparatory courses instead.

“I did not really speak any English when I came to Kansas, but Victoria had known some before and had an easier transition,” Morozova said.

The team, which is experienced with diversity, helped the girls adjust to life on and off the court. Both girls also enrolled in English classes during their first semester to help the transition.

“When Victoria came over she was a little lost, but she was not the first international player so the coaches knew how to help,” Morozova said. “I helped her, too. I explained campus to her and the tournaments.”

Even though the distance is difficult, Khanevskaya said her parents are proud of her for pursuing her academic and tennis career in Lawrence.

Only a semester in, she already feels comfortable with the team and the University.

“The team always wants to support me. I feel like I am not just another girl on the team, this is my second home,” Khanevskaya said. “I do not feel alone here.”

— Edited by Kristen Liszewski