From Volleyball Courts to Tennis Triumphs: Addison Ross Defies Odds with College Tennis Commitment
By FRED KRONER
Addison Ross’ story is one which Hollywood script writers would love.
It goes beyond the underdog coming out on top.
It’s more than not letting astronomical odds stand in the way of success.
It’s truly a feel-good story of a willingness to try something different with no expectations other than “to have fun.”
Ross was a volleyball player for her first two years at St. Joseph-Ogden, but didn’t see that sport in her future.
The summer before her junior year, Ross took up tennis.
“I decided to play tennis after I quit volleyball because I heard it was fun from multiple people who were on the (SJ-O) team,” Ross said.
She was a beginner in every sense of the word.
Her first coach (Bill Staley) was instrumental in her development.
“He taught me everything from how to hold a tennis racket to different game strategies,” Ross said.
Her coaches with the Spartans (Kevin Martlage and Dave McDermott) helped hone and refine her skills.
Now, less than 21 months after she first began playing tennis, Ross has the chance to play in college. She has committed to Millikin University, in Decatur.
That wasn’t her goal when she first picked up a racket.
“I had never thought I was good enough to play any sport in college, let alone a sport that I started a year ago,” Ross said. “I didn’t plan on playing in college the majority of my time playing at SJ-O, and was OK with that.”
She started her senior season playing No. 3 singles for the Spartans, moved up to the No. 2 position and by year’s end, was in the No. 1 spot.
Though Ross had a sub-.500 season record, Martlage saw the potential in her for the future.
When the SJ-O season ended, Ross was unrecruited, but Martlage was undeterred.
“He suggested to me multiple times that he thought I could play tennis in college,” Ross said. “I didn’t believe him at first, but then my parents also encouraged me to at least try.
“I had a conversation with my coach and he told me he 100 percent thought I could do it. After that, he got in contact with some coaches. Once some coaches reached out to me, I realized I might actually be capable of playing in college.”
The recruiting process for Ross was different than what is faced by many teen-agers. The high school season was over before she began looking into opportunities to play.
“I started after my season was over so I didn’t have the pressure of getting film or having coaches coming to watch my matches,” she said. “I didn’t really know what to expect for the recruiting process because I only knew a few people that were getting recruited.
“However, they were getting recruited for other sports, so it was a very different process than what they went through.”
By the time she committed to Millikin, Ross also had an offer to play at Lawrence University (in Appleton, Wis.)
Martlage was a believer that Ross’ best days in tennis were still in the future.
“The coolest thing about this entire story is not only the opportunity she now has to play at the next level, but also the fact that she just picked up a tennis racket for the first time when she decided to join the team in the fall of 2022,” Martlage said. “Having never really played tennis before, she realized she loved the game and dove into developing her skills as a player.
“Through her hard work and dedication, which included taking lessons in the offseason, she quickly became one of the top players we had on the team. This not only included her skills as a tennis player, but also her ability to support others as the best teammate she could be.
“Addison always put forth a tremendous effort each time she stepped on the court, which resulted in her playing varsity and making the sectional team both years she played at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Addison has been an integral part of our team for the past two years.”
It didn’t take long for Ross to develop a passion for tennis.
“I think that a few of the many appeals of tennis is that you can pick it up at any time,” she said. “You can also play your whole life and can almost always find someone to play with.”
Ross agrees that with experience on the court, she will continue to show improvement.
“I feel I will be able to learn a lot from being able to play almost year ‘round and playing at the next level will help me become a better player,” she said. “I hope to come in (at Millikin), continue to learn as much as I can, and be put wherever I am needed.
“The coaches have encouraged me to play as much as possible and continue lifting.”
Ross wasn’t a natural when she began playing, but soon became enamored with the sport.
“I wasn’t the best player when I first started, but I was consistent with my shots, which helped me move up,” she said. “What I liked about tennis the most was that I could play just for fun and I didn’t have to be perfect.
“It was really refreshing after I put a lot of pressure on myself when I played volleyball.”
At this point, her strengths are “my first serves and overheads,” she said. “If my first serves are good, my game goes much better overall. I am also very consistent at putting the ball away with an overhead, and they are my favorite shot.”
With the encouragement and support from her coaches, Ross took the initiative to contact collegiate coaches.
“I reached out to the Millikin coach in late October, after the tennis season was over,” she said. “I introduced myself and asked to learn more about his program.
“We emailed back and forth after that and I went on a couple visits. He knew I was also looking elsewhere, but he said there would always be a spot on the team if I wanted it.”
Millikin is considerably closer to her home than Lawrence, but Ross still found the choice to be a tough one.
“It was a difficult decision choosing between Millikin and Lawrence because they both have numerous advantages to their schools and tennis teams,” Ross said. “However, Millikin is a better fit for me overall.”
Finding herself in a position to play tennis on a team beyond high school, Ross said, is a tribute to others who invested their time and efforts with helping her learn.
“I feel the key to my development was my willingness to try new things and play people that are much better than me,” Ross said. “These people really helped me learn a lot, even if I didn’t always feel the best about walking into matches I knew weren’t going to end well.
“Without Bill (Staley) and my school coaches (Martlage and McDermott) I would not be anywhere near where I am now. They all have helped me through some tough moments and stuck with me even when I wasn’t winning matches or having the best attitude.”
Ross plans on majoring in chemistry with a minor in criminal justice.
“My goal is to become a forensic scientist or a CSI (crime scene investigator), and hopefully work my way up to the FBI,” she said.
From St. Joseph to Decatur is a little more than a 60-mile drive. That’s a distance Ross finds appealing.
“I hope it will make the transition a little easier, since I wouldn’t be too far from home if I get too homesick or forget something,” Ross said. “I am pretty close with my parents, so I will definitely miss them, but I won’t be too far.”
Besides volleyball and tennis, Ross has also participated in basketball and dance, and still is involved with track and field.
“When I was younger, I never planned on playing any sport in college,” Ross said.
Martlage believes there is a lesson to be learned from Ross and her ascent up the tennis ladder.
“From my perspective, Addison’s story shows that if you are not afraid to explore new opportunities presented to you, you commit yourself to continual improvement and advancement, and you focus on supporting those around you as a teammate, any of your dreams and goals will become a reality even if some of the goals were never on your radar when you started,” he said. “I’m certain she will continue to do great things both on and off the court and will bring the same drive and commitment to her new team, and teammates, at Millikin.
“It is really going to be exciting to see her advance as a college tennis player while continuing to reach her personal and career goals. I’m so happy for her and the opportunity she has to play at the next level.”
Ross hopes she can be a role model and inspiration for others.
“To anyone who wants to try something new, especially tennis, I say go for it, it is never too late,” Ross said. “Do what you want to do and do what is best for you.”
Now that Millikin has taken notice of Ross, one question remains: How far behind are the Hollywood script writers?
