Commitment Profile
Bruins Reel In Top Junior Ena Shibahara
by Rhiannon Potkey, 21 January 2015
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Ena Shibahara looked around in complete amazement.
Having received a sportsmanship award from the Southern California Tennis Association, Shibahara was invited to hit on stadium court at the Los Angeles Tennis Center during an ATP tournament.
Shibahara had grown up attending the tournament on
UCLA's campus, but this was the first time she had stepped on the main court with a racket in her hand.
As the crowd watched from above, Shibahara soaked in the surroundings and decided she wanted to play there again in the future.
UCLA became Shibahara's dream school, and her dream became closer to reality a few weeks ago when the blue-chip recruit verbally committed to attend the university.
"I just felt like I knew I was going to be there one day and it was kind of like fate because I have so many memories there," Shibahara said. "It was kind of like UCLA chose me."
Shibahara, a junior at Peninsula High in a Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., chose UCLA for reasons beyond just her childhood memories.
She wanted to stay close to home and play for a national title contender. She believed the defending NCAA champion Bruins offered quality coaching and a world-class education.
"I always heard about UCLA and how great a school it is from people and how great the program was," Shibahara said. "They told me it's not just the tennis, but the fitness. They said they would take great care of me and that really helped me decide."
Shibahara felt even more comfortable after meeting with the team and UCLA head coach Stella Sampras Webster.
"I talked to Stella and I realized that she has the same game as me. She is real aggressive and really likes my style of tennis," Shibahara said. "When I heard that, it just made me happy because I know that when I get there she will understand my style and I know that she will help me."
