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LEADING Tennis superstar has sights set high After yet another successful season on the courts, one of our Senior School students has her sights set on studying internationally once she leaves school. Lochleven House Prefect Ivy McLean has been playing tennis since she was eight years old and is now the New Zealand 18’s Doubles champion. Ivy is inspired by her mum, Old Girl Anna Callender, and other family members. “Mum has a long history in playing and coaching tennis. She began coaching my older sister Grace and then me soon after,” Ivy says. “I was very lucky as this meant I always had someone to hit with growing up, whether that was my sister or mum.” Since attending QMC, Ivy has been part of the successful Premier 1 team through several of their triumphs in the past few years. “In both Year 11 and Year 12, we came second at the New Zealand Secondary Schools championships. This was very exciting and impressive for QMC because, in my first two years, we hadn’t qualified for a spot in the tournament. “Another highlight has been the QMC Premier 1 teamwinning the Premier league on three separate occasions.” As well as winning the New Zealand 18’s Doubles title this year, Ivy’s Premier 1 interclub teammade the finals in their league for the second year in a row, and she won the College Sport Singles tournament. “More recently, our QMC team competed in the New Zealand Secondary Schools tournament, where we all left everything Ivy McLean in action. on the court and placed sixth in the country. “This season has been a real success, and I have thoroughly enjoyed travelling and competing against the top in New Zealand.” Outside school tennis, Ivy has had the opportunity to play in Vietnam, New Caledonia and Fiji. “These were amazing experiences, and I learnt lots of new things both on and off the court. In New Caledonia, I won my third International Tennis Federation Doubles title, which was very exciting. “Another highlight was winning the New Zealand Open Doubles title in 2017, which was televised.” Now in Year 13, Ivy has her sights set on gaining a scholarship to a division 1 school in the United States. “This will give me the opportunity to compete against such a variety of players from all around the world, as well as play in a social, yet competitive, team environment. “I’m hoping studying abroad will be as fulfilling as everyone says and that I come away with an even bigger love for tennis.” She credits the likes of Roger Federer and Bianca Andreescu as tennis role-models. “Bianca Andreescu is an 18-year- old Canadian player. Her debut tournament was here in New Zealand, at the ASB classic, where she lost in a close final after having qualified for the event. She defied the odds, beating top-ranked players like Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams and inspires young girls, like myself, to believe that anything is possible.” 36 Queen Margaret Calling :: ISSUE 63 :: May 2019