FULTON, Mo. - One of the steady forces behind William Woods Women's Tennis, Samya Sikand has embraced every opportunity revealed to her at William Woods and turned it into growth, both on and off the court. From traveling halfway across the world to finding a second family in Fulton, her journey has been defined by resilience, gratitude, and a deep love for the game.
Everyone has their "why" for choosing a university to both receive an education and compete in athletics. For Sikand, the choice came down to a division II institution or William Woods. The deciding factor was the family atmosphere of the Owls tennis team.
"The only thing that stood out to me was how they mentioned that this place gives you a family more than anything else," said Sikand. "I think realizing that I've always been at my house alone, because I'm the only child with my parents, that if I'm going so far away, it's going to be something that I'm going to need, where I can rely on and trust my teammates."
More than just her teammates, the coaching staff at William Woods also helped draw Sikand in through steady leadership and competitive success.
"I feel like the tennis results and the coaching staff were another reason, with all the positive things I was hearing and seeing. When I saw that Tennis was constantly being ranked, I knew this was the place for me," Sikand added.
Another factor of Sikand's "why" was the international presence on the team, a non-negotiable when it came to her college home. Competing with peers that face similar challenges of being far from friends, family, and comfortability builds a team culture rarely found elsewhere. Yet, despite the relationships Sikand has established with her team, she credits her parents back home in India as her biggest supporters.
"I wouldn't be here without them, and they've done absolutely everything for me to be here," Sikand explained. "I would say my mom is the one who put me into tennis, and back home, she's going to all my matches and putting in the effort to ensure that I am playing at the level I can be at. I miss her here because I miss seeing her by the court supporting me and cheering me on."
However, Sikand is not facing a lack of support at William Woods. Her teammates are always present for one another, constantly providing support no matter what she faces. Sikand considers the women on her team as some of the greatest people she has ever met.
"I had Mireya, Nina, and Charlotte, who were my best friends... all three of them have been my constant supporters since day one," Sikand recalled. "Even Mano came with us in freshman year. I think the people I came in with freshman year have been the biggest supporters here, and the Spanish group on the team as well has been great to be around."
With William Woods' rich history as an all-women's college, Sikand believes the university has done an excellent job empowering female athletes, even after the integration of men in 1996. This is evidenced by the men's and women's tennis coach, Abigail Lemberger-Hughes, and the difference she makes in her athletes' lives.
"Having a female coach, and having three out of five of our staff females, just makes a big difference," exclaimed Sikand. "You look up to them, as they have all been in our shoes before and can understand us. I also like all the women's sports that Woods has, and I can look up to some of the other women athletes on campus who are getting national recognition. I feel it's so important that sports are not just about men, and that every female is getting that equal opportunity to be able to play and to be able to show their opportunity to prove themselves. I feel like Woods does a very good job making sure that us females also have an equal opportunity."
Being led by both a male and female coach in her career, Sikand understands the value of a like-minded leader. Although any coaching transition is difficult, she noted that the hiring of coach Lemberger Hughes and the guidance she provides has meant the world.
"I really appreciate the fact that we have Coach Abigail because I feel like she just understands us much better. It also helps that she is a mother now because she looks at us as her kids as well and has been very respectful towards us," said Sikand. "She's always talking to us as our friend, coach, or mother whenever we may need it. She plays all of those roles perfectly and has been so supportive of all of us. We never feel like we can't go and talk to her, and she loves it when we just show up in her office just to talk. If we are having a bad day, she'll message us to come talk to her or if we may need anything from her."
Her coach has helped Sikand make strides for her personal growth, but tennis has never left the equation. In times when she may have been low on herself, coach Lemberger Hughes' belief has helped Sikand develop into the competitor she is now.
"Coach Abigail is the first one to allow me to go out there, and she's the first one who believed in me, and to date, I'm so appreciative of her because she's one of the coaches who made me fall in love with Tennis all over again," Sikand noted.
As a competitor at William Woods, Sikand has had the opportunity to go out there and showcase her talents against some of the best in the nation. Multiple national competition performances have provided the roadmap for Owls' tennis on their ceiling as a program.
"With us hosting indoor nationals for the last two years, it has been a great opportunity to get that exposure at the national level," mentioned Sikand. "Beating Ave Maria University at ITA was one of the more important matches we won as it put us up in the national rankings. That really opened our eyes to how good we can be with our competition at ITA."
The Woods have done anything but turn away from the bright lights. Outside of her two experiences with ITA Indoor Nationals, the Owls have competed at NAIA Outdoor Nationals for each of Sikand's first three seasons. After a conference championship each year, consistent success might not come easy, but it has become an expectation.
"Outdoor nationals are also another eye opener to see all the great talent across the nation and world that are competing at nationals trying to do the same thing as me," stated Sikand. "Last year, we fell short with my clinching match to get to the second round, but it didn't bother me too much, as it showed me how close we are to taking that next step. It just showed that we needed to work a little harder, and we'll be right back there as a team."
Despite finding a second home in Fulton and earning individual and team success at a national level, the path has never been simple for Sikand. As an international student from India, she has had to navigate cultural differences and life far from home, but the people at William Woods have made this process easier.
"You realize that you have these people who are also far away from home, so you resonate with them, and you relate, and you realize that they're going through the same thing as you, and then you end up finding home in them," Sikand reveled. "Ever since my freshmen year with the tennis team we have always been together, whether it was eating at Tucker café, lifting together, or practicing together. I never felt as if I was alone; I always had my girls. At the same time, I have friends in golf, soccer, and other sports who are also international students, and it just helps having those people around you in the same situation."
The Woods emphasizes making international students feel at home with plenty of connections and resources at their disposal. Even thousands of miles from home, Sikand has yet to feel alone.
"I am the only one in my family to go this far away from home, so it was a big change, but Woods has always made the effort to make us feel included. I have never felt like a foreigner here, which is perfect."
Her experience at the Woods comprises half of Sikand's reasoning for traveling across oceans for an education. The other half is her ability to compete in her beloved sport. On the court, Sikand's growth has been evident. After limited opportunities for her freshman year, she stayed patient, waited for her moment, and capitalized when it arrived.
"I didn't get much playing time my freshman year, but I used that time to watch other players and take time off the court to perfect my game. When my opportunities came, I played well, and that allowed me to move up," claimed Sikand. "I've grown a lot as a player on and off the court with cardio and weightlifting, as well as working on the court with the coaches and the support from my teammates. That has helped my overall growth and the team's growth as well."
Her hard work and diligence have paid off thus far. Early into the 2025-26 season, William Woods Women's Tennis has already earned quality wins against Quincy, Morningside, and Grand View Universities. Sikand herself won two of three individual contests in those matches. With her play on the court, Sikand is driven and motivated by one thing: her parents.
"I feel like I always want to make my parents proud, and it's something that's always in my head, and this question always makes me emotional," Sikand said passionately. "Since day one, my parents have done so much for me, and I've always wanted to go out there and prove myself to them. I just wanted to do it for them."
Tennis has always been a part of Sikand's life, enduring both ups and downs. Through a knee injury setting her back at the age of 14 and an attempt at a different sport, her perspective on tennis has changed.
"I stopped playing for almost two and a half years, and I started swimming. Then I was doing both sports consecutively, and I did nationals in both, so it was a great opportunity as well, with knee injury," remembered Sikand. "But at the same time, I feel like tennis has always been something that defined me since day one, and I owe it to the sport, and I owe it to myself and to my parents and every family member that supported me since I stepped out on the court."
As Sikand prepares to graduate in May, her goals for the season are simple, yet hold a deep meaning.
"I told myself before the start of the season that I just wanted to go out there and have fun and play some of the best tennis I have played. That is the most important to me because in four years, when I look back, I'm not going to remember my win-loss record; I'm going to remember the great matches that I played," acknowledged Sikand.
Her desires have come to fruition, competing as the #2 for individual matches and half of the #1 doubles team for William Woods. However, the numbers mean little for Sikand compared to the life she has experienced in the past four years.
"All of us here came to achieve something and came so far away from home to be able to do something in life. I think coming to the Woods was the best decision that I made in terms of exposure, in terms of experience, and in terms of just seeing the world. If I have a goal this semester, it's going to be to step out and go with the same energy in every match and play for myself, play for the team, and just have fun."
After her time at the Woods, Sikand is set to get her master's degree at the European University of Real Madrid, a graduate school in Spain. She will be studying for a degree in Sport Psychology, with classes beginning in October of this year. It would be hard to imagine life without tennis, though, so Sikand plans to continue playing tennis during her studies. Sikand's dream is to use her degree to work with professional athletes in club tennis or soccer programs in Spain or South America, where those sports are popular.
Finally, Sikand wanted to leave a note to some of the most special people in her life.
"I would just like to say thank you to my parents. I don't think that any of this was possible without them, and that I miss them a lot, but I'm going to see them soon. Also, thank you to all my friends who've been here every day supporting me, like all the Spanish people who've been there for me since day one, and all my teammates, and especially our coaching staff. Coach Abigail, Kayla, Manuela, and the boys have also for always supported and never thought I couldn't do something. Thank you for believing in me. I'm going to miss Woods so much, but I am excited about the future."
Follow #19 ranked William Woods Women's Tennis as they continue their season this spring. The Owls are back in action Sunday, Mar. 1st against Drury University in Springfield, Mo.
