SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Amelia Honer's senior year legacy has already hit the ground running, kicking off her final UC Santa Barbara tennis season on a high note by competing in the 2024 Master'U BNP Paribas Championship this past November. In October, just a month earlier, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced that Honer, along with five other collegiate players, would represent the USA in the tournament's 17th anniversary. This opportunity reflects Honer's talent and her embodiment of US collegiate tennis, both of which stem from her immense dedication to the sport.

"I'm super competitive, so that's a big part of my game, every single point, not giving up. I'm not a huge flashy player, but I like to grind and do a little bit of everything," said Honer. 

Beginning young at age eight, Honer was introduced to tennis by her dad who had grown up playing in England. As a child, she was a multi-sport athlete, but her focus on tennis came from the competition she craved. 

"I enjoy being out there by myself. I felt like tennis is a really good way to let out my competitive spirit because the result falls on you. There's so much to it, and I like that being I win or I lose, [the outcome] is all up to me," said Honer. 

After realizing her true passion for the game while entering high school, Honer set her sights on being recruited. Playing on both her high school team and in United States Tennis Association (USTA) tournaments meant travel and training took up her time, but she was still able to maintain a focus on academics despite her athletic aspirations.

"My support system was so great growing up. My parents wanted what was best for me, but never pushed me to do anything I didn't want to do. They encouraged balance and I'm someone who needs a lot of balance in my life. It's common for a lot of tennis players to start homeschooling when they're younger, but I stayed in public school. I had my friends, my life outside of tennis but I also, of course, dedicated a lot of time to the game," said Honer.

Throughout high school, Honer worked her way up the rankings, earning No. 1 player in Pennsylvania and No. 14 in her class, which contributed to her recruitment success and commitment to UC Santa Barbara. Her college decision was partially based on the school, the coaches and the team, but mainly because she saw an opportunity for the team to grow.

"It's more of an up-and-coming program, which was a big selling point for me. I wanted to be a part of something special here," said Honer. "My freshman year I came in, and we had always been around No. 40 or No. 50 in the country, but my first year we were top 25, had some really big wins, and a great group of girls. So it was cool to right away see the change and work towards something bigger," said Honer.

From her freshman year to this current 2024-2025 season, Honer has made a significant impact on the development of UC Santa Barbara tennis. With 94 singles wins and over 60 doubles victories throughout her collegiate career so far, her skills have significantly contributed to the team's record. Honer's own legacy is equally remarkable. In the 2024 spring season, she became the first Gaucho women's tennis player to be named All-American since 1996 and has twice been named Big-West Player of the Year. Despite these feats, she expresses one moment in particular that stands out to her.

"My favorite moment at Santa Barbara in college tennis was definitely our Stanford win my freshman year. Our program had never beaten them before, the score was three all, and I was playing in the last match. Both teams, all the coaches and all the fans, were watching my match. It was a big deal for us. I ended up winning the match and it was a great moment for the program and the team," said Honer.

This early triumph has continued to progress throughout her college career, one recent highlight being her selection for the 2024 Master'U BNP Paribas Championship. Featuring eight teams from across the world, this international university tennis tournament is a competition among top collegiate tennis players. Team USA entered into this tournament with 11 previous wins including the year before, adding pressure to defend the victory. Honer was one of the six US players chosen to take on the task when the ITA announced her selection in October.

"I was shocked. I was shocked that they wanted me to be there, but I was super excited, obviously, and it was a very exciting moment to be invited to that," said Honer.

Arriving in Reims, France in November, the team stayed for a week playing three full days of matches. Each day consisted of two singles matches for both men and women, a doubles match for each, and if necessary a mixed doubles match after.

"It was a super energetic, fun environment. You're playing seven matches all on one court throughout the day, so they're long days, but it's so much fun. Everyone's watching you, you're doing it for your team, you're doing it for your country," said Honer.

Team USA went 3-0 beating Germany, France and then Great Britain in the finals, earning their 12th gold medal out of the 17 tournaments. Individually, Honer contributed by winning her two women's doubles matches, however, lost in both her singles matches. But above the turnout, the experience she took away meant the most.

"The opportunity to represent your country is a big deal. First of all, the level of tennis was amazing, which was inspiring and motivating to keep playing at that level and to get better. But also being able to represent your country, something bigger than yourself, is cool to be out there," said Honer.

Coming off of a high, Honer and the Gauchos tennis team are entering their spring season for the 2025 year. For Honer, this is a significant one, as it will be her final year playing in the blue and gold.

"It's bittersweet. And I think playing our first season match definitely hit me a little bit that this is kind of the first of the last, but I'm just trying to enjoy it and stay in the present. Also not thinking too much about the fact that I'm graduating soon and it'll be over. It's exciting, and it's fun to reflect back on the past three years too and see where I am now," said Honer.

Preseason ITA rankings announced Honer as No. 14 in singles and No. 35 in doubles, and since then she has moved to No. 16 in singles and No. 9 in doubles. UC Santa Barbara's women's tennis also has their first home match approaching, which will take place on Feb. 9 against TCU. Following her time at Santa Barbara, the next step for Honer is playing on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour after she graduates. Her professional career is off to a strong start with her first tour victory occurring in October of 2024 at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W35 Bakersfield tournament, where she claimed the title.

"My initial goal was to compete in college and go that route and then, as I've progressed in my tennis career, I think my goals have definitely changed to now go pro and see where I can go," said Honer.