Acing her senior year: Indya Nespor

Closing out her final season at Utah State University, senior Indya Nespor leads the women’s tennis team with a record of 8-5, leaving behind what head coach Veronika Golanova classified as a season full of hard work and relentless competition.  

Recruited from California State University, Fullerton, Nespor has played for the Aggies since her sophomore year of college. Her decision to enter the transfer portal was motivated by her hopes to play more tennis and move to an environment with high school spirit, she said.  

Competing at the NCAA Division I college tennis level had always been a dream for Nespor — a dream she said didn’t come with just raw talent.  

“My dedication I’ve given to tennis — my openness and happiness and hardworking,” Nespor said. “I grew up with tennis.” 

Born in San Diego but raised in the Netherlands, Nespor began competing in tournaments when she was 11 in Holland. Tennis quickly became her “everything” after moving back to the United States, where she spent most of her time after school practicing in what she calls the “competitive” atmosphere of California tennis.  

Being recruited by Utah State was the first step in her plan to play what she called “her style of game” and to kickstart the journey of becoming the best tennis player she could be. 

Becoming this type of player started early on in her sophomore season at Utah State. Golanova, then assistant coach of the team, began working with Nespor to find her rhythm of play. Golanova said Nespor was discovering her type of game her first year and as she has put in the time these last few years, she has grown into a player who knows her style and is confident in her game.  

“Her mental toughness,” Golanova said, remarking on the biggest area of growth for Nespor. “Her competitiveness.”  

Nespor attributed her growth as a college tennis player to her supportive family and Golanova, who stuck with her.  

“She has shaped a lot of my game and helped me build the confidence I have now,” Nespor said. “She, more than any coach ever, knows me and knows my emotions.” 

The shaping Nespor felt while developing her skills at USU has led her “to come out and be more athletic on the court and play my style of game,” Nespor said.   

Golanova described her style of game as “long match tennis style.” Nespor looks to stretch out games by using her athleticism and mental endurance to best other players — something Golanova said is “annoying” for her opponents to try and match. 

“You know she’s never going to give up,” Golanova said. “She’s a very competitive person, and she hates losing.” 

At the top of the lineup for the Aggies and a “leader” on the court, Nespor is “strict with things,” which has led her to where she is now in the season, said Golanova.  

With the tennis season wrapping up in May, Nespor and the team have their focus on keeping momentum for nationals. 

“Keep on getting the confidence up,” Golanova said on their tactic at this point in the season. “Movement with our choices, and hopefully the highest peak happens right before the tournaments.”  

Though Nespor still has a few weeks in her last collegiate season, she’s looking and preparing for the road ahead. Nespor said her time in America has “shaped her” into who she is, but she plans to travel after graduation and settle back down in Holland.  

Graduating from the kinesiology program at USU, Nespor plans to pursue an education in aviation back in Holland and continue to play tennis and start coaching.  

“I never want to be done with tennis,” Nespor said. “Here in college, I’ve missed out on maybe some things that other students would do, but I’ve gained so much more.” 

According to Nespor, her closest relationships, friendships and favorite memories have come from playing tennis. 

As Nespor leaves the team, Golanova said she will leave behind an example for younger teammates to look up to on how to develop their tennis game through dedication. 

“She’s always accountable,” Golanova said. “You always know what you’re going to get with her. There is not a day with a dip that she would have in a practice. She’s always full on.” 

To Nespor, including her dedication to the game in her future isn’t just about keeping competition close by. 

“Having an athletics background and being able to handle stress,” Nespor said about her relationship with the game. “[Tennis] just sets me up very well for the future.”  

Nespor said this future is full of opportunity that she credits to coaches who pushed her, giving her the confidence to become her best self, and her family, who supported her through the ups and downs of student-athlete life.