An Ace on the Court

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Shiyu at sunset with Old Main illuminated in the background.

When the sun sets on clear winter evenings at Miller School, Old Main is illuminated for a few fleeting minutes. The red bricks, giant windows, and towering roofline of Old Main’s dramatic Victorian architecture appear to levitate. An incredible building looks even more incredible during these fleeting moments at the edge of the day. If you have never seen this before, the best place to view it is the tennis courts on the west side of campus. From this vantage point, you can soak in the scene.

It is more than likely that you will share the moment with MSA’s Maverick tennis player, Shiyu Dong. Though, he won’t be admiring the sunset; rather, he will be going through his daily workout on the court, preparing for the spring season of tennis. Regardless of the temperature, Shiyu is on the court practicing, sometimes with teammates and other times alone with an automatic ball thrower. For Shiyu, the crisp winter evenings provide him the extra hours to hone his skills and pursue his passion for tennis.

The 2024 season is Shiyu’s second season as MSA’s number one player and captain of the team. He leads a motivated team of players looking to make their mark in the VIC this season.

Shiyu started playing tennis when he was eight years old and progressed quickly through the junior ranks in his hometown in China. After three years of training and regular practice, Shiyu’s passion for tennis was at an all-time high, and even though he was only eleven years old, Shiyu planned to commit himself to becoming an elite tennis player. Then, his plans were unexpectedly derailed.

Shiyu explained: “Just before my twelfth birthday, a PM2.5-level air pollution broke out on a massive scale in China. The air quality made it impossible for athletes to continue playing outdoor sports.”

With no local indoor tennis facilities, Shiyu’s dreams of a tennis career were sidelined. After three years of government intervention, the air quality started to improve, and Shiyu gradually was able to resume practicing. Shortly after he was back on the court, the global pandemic hit, and Shiyu was forced off of the courts again. Fortunately, his passion for tennis and his resilient personality kept him motivated to play and to look for a school where he could pursue his academic and athletic interests.

Shiyu found Miller School searching for boarding schools online. He noticed in the photos of the school MSA’s stunning tennis courts looking over the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and pictured himself playing high school tennis on the courts. When in-person classes restarted, Shiyu was on an airplane to Charlottesville, ready to play a sport he loves at the school of his dreams.

Once here, he made his mark quickly. Shiyu commented: “I came to campus and made it to Varsity, taking the number three spot on the team and serving as captain my first year. During the 2022-2023 season, I continued to be the tennis captain and played the number one spot for the first time.” While Shiyu loves competition and training, he is equally passionate about introducing others to tennis and helping them improve their skills.

It is common to see him on the courts with a classmate picking up a racquet for the first time. During his offseason, Shiyu volunteers as a coach’s assistant for the girls' tennis team. He assists the coaching staff with daily training routines and works with novice players learning the sport for the first time. “The daily training includes helping my classmates to practice forehand and backhand, as well as the footwork of the actual game. The more detailed things include how to throw the ball when serving, how to use the whole body to hit the ball, and helping the players to analyze the opponent's weaknesses and set up the tactics in the game,” remarked Shiyu. This past summer, he earned a PTR tennis coach certification to improve his coaching skills.

Much like Old Main on a winter evening, Shiyu is shining brightly on the Hill as a student-athlete who is pursuing his passion and sharing his expertise with enthusiasm with his classmates. As you soak in the beauty of the sunset from the tennis courts, steal a glance at Shiyu in action. His dedication and skill on the court are inspiring. Prepare to be captivated.