News & Features

With five graduating seniors on Boston College's horizon, there is little doubt that Head Coach Nigel Bentley has a large gap to fill for the coming season. Lauren Cash, Dasha Cherkasov, Lana Krasnopolsky, Alina Sullivan, and Sarah Svoboda have neatly laid a path of success together and individually at BC. Each one has made her mark on the program over the course of four years.

Fall Signing Day will bring commitments from three accomplished seniors. Olga Khmylev, Alexandra Kelleher, and Maria Fuccillo will attempt to fill the void as they prepare for their own BC Women's Tennis experience.

Born in Moscow, moved by the age of two to Buffalo, Olga Khmylev considers Buffalo, NY, her home.

"I love living in Buffalo," says Olga, "People are so nice and it's very safe."

Parents Yuri and Vera Khmylev made the move in 1992 when Yuri was drafted to play professional hockey for the Buffalo Sabres.

"I love hockey," Olga says, "I was raised going to hockey games and I like playing hockey with my guy friends."

When asked why she chose tennis, Olga says, "My parents wanted me to a play a sport that I could excel in as a woman. They were very strict about tennis, and they pushed me because it was hard, at first, for me to become disciplined."