Spartans of UD - Molly Jex
By University Relations StaffSpartans of UD highlights what makes the University of Dubuque special - the people.
Molly Jex, of Germantown, Wisconsin, is a first-year sport marketing and management major who is on the women's tennis team. She has been the Spartans No. 1 singles player for most of the fall season and has currently won five straight dual matches. With being a first-year student-athlete, Molly is making her name known right away. She is also a goalie on the women's hockey team, a tennis representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and a member of the Sport Marketing and Management Club.
How did you get into tennis?
"My mom played collegiate tennis, and my grandma worked for the United States Tennis Association for a long time, so I grew up around tennis."
What was it like transitioning from tennis at the high school level to the collegiate level?
"At the collegiate level, I was not prepared for how often we would practice and the level we practiced at. It was difficult taking care of my body and finding the right ways to recover after practices and matches. My coaches and teammates were very understanding of how I prepared my body for each practice and how hard I was able to push my body during each practice."
How do you prepare for matches?
"I always fuel my body before matches. When I get to the courts, I spend around 10 minutes stretching my body. I sometimes listen to music to center myself, but otherwise I am talking to my teammates. I then start my hitting routine with my partner."
What has been the highlight of your tennis career at UD so far?
"The highlight of my tennis career so far would be playing at the No. 1 doubles and No. 1 singles position for majority of the season. I also enjoyed beating Loras College during my matches."
In your opinion, what makes the University of Dubuque unique?
"The University of Dubuque has an amazing athletics community. I think it is so cool how they care for the athletes in all ways. It is also amazing how small the class sizes are, which helps create more personal relationships with the professors."