SAN FRANCISCO – On Friday, March 6 Chiho Mushika defeated Nevada's Arina Gumerova 7-5, 6-3 in a singles match helping the University of San Francisco women's tennis team defeat the Wolf Pack, 4-2. Six days later, the West Coast Conference announced the suspension of the remaining play in the spring season due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
 
Despite her promising freshman season screeching to a halt, Spring 2020 hasn't all been bad for the native of Aichi, Japan.  In the latest Dons From Distance, Director of Creative Video Katie Morgan caught up with the Dons' budding star and talked about growing up in Japan and how her family found a bright spot amid a global pandemic.
 
Mushika began playing tennis at seven years old on the encouragement of her parents. Though they aren't tennis players themselves, they unknowingly have created a familial dynasty.  Mushika, entering her sophomore year on the Hilltop, is lauded by head coach Peter Bartlett, who has said that we haven't seen the best from Mushika yet, that she is part of the bright future of the USF program, and that she will be a top collegiate player. 
 
Her twin sisters, Mao and Mio, who picked up the sport at five years old, are two of the top ITF Juniors. The duo are both ranked in the top-500 at the ITF Juniors level and train year round in Florida with one of the top tennis coaches.
 
In March, Mushika returned home to Japan and a week later her sisters followed suit. The pandemic has allowed the three sisters to spend the most time together since tennis took over their lives as children. Now, spends her time training against her two sisters as she prepares for her sophomore campaign.
 
You can see this and all the past Dons From Distance on our YouTube page or by clicking here.
 
Learn more by watching the video, and check USFDons.com to hear other stories about our athletes in these difficult times.  Also, be sure to follow the Dons on social media at DonsAthletics on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.