Isip stayed at SMC and continued to be a powerhouse for the Gaels, playing in the ITA All-American tournament and earning rankings in singles and doubles (with numerous partners). She also clinched the doubles point en route to a team upset over No.1 Stanford – one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, bringing the Gaels to a program-high No.20 ranking. She attributed her successful career to understanding her purpose as a student-athlete and managing her time more appropriately. “It wasn’t until the following year where I started to understand how to manage everything. We had meetings with our coaches and we would talk about our personal lives, our goals, and how to achieve them all. It was teamwork all day, everyday, whether you were on or off the court.

Isip graduated from SMC in 2013 and earned All-WCC honors every year. Graduating with a degree in Sports Management, she began coaching back home before the competitive tennis itch began harassing her, which led to an opportunity to represent the Philippines in Fed Cup. “After I hit some balls with my boss one time, he kept bringing up that I should probably still be playing competitively. I was able to brush that idea off for a few months, and then one day after talking to him again, I decided that I had nothing to lose. He suggested that I try to showcase my skills so I could try to play Fed Cup. I went back to my roots, flew to the Philippines to play the country’s biggest tournament and stayed there for about 6 weeks on my own. I didn’t do as well as I would have hoped, but I was happy because I played much better than I thought I would have, especially having to come back competitively after a year and a half. It was definitely quite the adventure.

Today, Isip spends her time in Las Vegas, working as a coach at the No Quit Tennis Academy and serving as an Assistant at the Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation. She uses her experience as an elite junior to understand what her students are going through. “I enjoy being in that environment because I can empathize with my students on and off of the court. Isip says the Foundation’s goal is to create the ultimate player by providing a fun, yet competitive environment to at-risk youth with an emphasis on good sportsmanship, honesty, character and hard work. “They help those who may not have the funds or resources to get their child to play tennis and then potentially earn a college scholarship. On top of excelling on the tennis court, the Foundation provides leadership and character building training through different seminars and speakers. “Ryan Wolfington and Trent Alenik do a great job providing our kids a positive path towards a successful future. I’m very grateful for the opportunity they’ve given me to gain this experience.”

Not only does Isip have a chance to give back to the community, she’s learning just as much as she’s teaching. “What helps me everyday is that I know a lot of people are counting on me. I have learned so much in just a short amount of time, both personally and professionally. I like to see what kind of decisions I’ll make and there’s no better feeling than going home feeling productive. The students Isip coaches and mentors has given her a more positive outlook on life. “As clich as it sounds, I’m definitely more appreciative of what I have going on for me. It’s so much easier to get upset or feel ungrateful, but I’m still learning how to understand and master things one at a time. Moving forward, Isip strives to grow personally and professionally and yearns to check off countries on her traveling bucket list.