My name is Hayley Sibbald, I am a 6’1, 18-year-old from Melbourne, Australia. I recently completed year 12 at the end of 2022. I have been offered to play division 1 collegiate tennis in the Fall of 2023. Unfortunately the team does not have any funds left to offer me a full scholarship for my first year (2023/24). I am extremely excited at the opportunity to play tennis in the US as I think that it will be a great experience and worldly pathway towards bettering my game.

I have attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School for the past 6 years on a full (100%) scholarship based on both my tennis and academic abilities. I have been on the firsts tennis team from years 7-12, winning MVP 4 times (2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022) and captaining the team twice (2021 & 2022). I was fortunate enough to be a part of the team’s first ever premierships in its 40 years of existence, taking home the title in 2018 and 2020. I was selected to represent the Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria at the Representative Sports Competition against the Associated Public Schools of Victoria, 5 times (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022), in which I was the captain and number 1 player on the team in 2022.

Before Australia implemented the UTR system, we used the Australian Ranking System, in which I have always sat inside the top 10 of my age group (2004 birth year). My career highest ranking achieved in 2022 was 183 (Ash Barty being number 1) in Australia, leaving me 6th in my age group before the system was changed. I have represented Victoria at the Bruce Cup (teams event) and played multiple nationals events including singles and doubles. I am also a full scholarship holder at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, Melbourne’s most prestigious tennis facility, in which I play ladies pennant and club championships. I am coached by Ian Barclay, Pat Cash’s former coach when he won Wimbledon, who is now 84 years old. I have been with Ian for the last 10 years, after he saw something in me and took me under his wing at the Victorian Super 10’s program, I am very lucky to have someone like Ian in my corner. I like to think my strengths on court include my serve and ground strokes, especially my forehand.

I am a very diligent student, who takes great pride in my academic results. I achieved high marks in year 12 (ATAR), and I am currently at RMIT completing my first semester in Law, which I will be deferring to pursue my college pathway.

Thank you

Hayley Sibbald :)