by HNN Staff
Pinehurst, N.C. (Special to HNN) — The North Carolina Tennis Foundation inducted the two newest members of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. Cyrus KingJr., of Raleigh, and Susan McDanald Love, of Charlotte, were inducted into the Hall of Fame Jan. 29, 2005 at a gala event held at the Carolina Inn at Pinehurst. The pair were the 65th and 66th inductees into the collection of North Carolina's tennis elite.Charlotte's Susan Love is a lifelong player whose all around game has propelled her to the highest levels of competition in the USTA. Love has captured singles, doubles, and team titles at state, sectional and national championships.
Born in Huntington, W.Va., Love tuned her game on the public courts of Huntington, and rose through the ranks in the Western Section (now the Midwest Section). Her results brought attention from many colleges and in 1979 she was the first woman to be offered a full athletic scholarship to West Virginia University. Love turned that offer down, though, in favor of a competing offer from Appalachian State University.
In four years at Appalachian State, Love played under three different coaches; each one different and each one helping her to improve her game. During her sophomore year, Love rose to the #1 positions in singles and doubles, spots she would not relinquish. Twice she was the team's Most Valuable Player and with a schedule that pitted her against Southern and ACC powerhouses, she earned those MVPs. In her senior year, Love posted a 17-5 record.
With degree in hand, Love entered the working world as a student teacher at South Mecklenburg High School. She missed the call of the tennis courts, though and decided to pursue a career in tennis. Before long, Love was hired on as a teaching Pro at Charlotte Tennis Club. Three years later, in 1986, Love became one of the first female Tennis Directors in the state, when she accepted an offer to become the Tennis Director at Myers Park Country Club. In her 10 years at Myers Park, Love revitalized the program with her enthusiasm and professionalism.
As a tournament player, Love brings that same enthusiasm for the game. She loves the competition and, even more, the friendships she has formed. Recounting her early days, Love remembered that she "went for the competition back then, but now it's about the relationships you have with these special people. That's what keeps me going back."
Whether or not it was about winning, that is what Love did. She won. Everywhere she went and on whatever level she played. In North Carolina alone, Love has reached State Championship Finals an astonishing 45 times. In those 45 tries, she has won 37 State Titles, amassing 15 singles, 14 doubles, and 8 mixed doubles titles. Two of which she won during pregnancy.
Collegiate Playing Career
Appalachian State University 1979-1983
#1 Singles: 1980-1983
#1 Doubles: 1980-1983
Captain: 1982, 1983
Most Valuable Player: 1982, 1983
North Carolina State Championship Titles
Singles
Open Division: 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992
Women's 25s: 1988, 1989, 1990
Women's 30s: 1992
Women's 35s: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Women's 40s: 2001
Doubles
Open Division: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992
Women's 25s: 1988, 1989, 1990
Women's 30s: 1992, 1993
Women's 35s: 1998, 1999
Mixed Doubles
Mixed Doubles 25s: 1988
Mixed Doubles 30s: 1992, 1993
Mixed Doubles 35s: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
Southern Section Championship Titles
Singles
Women's 25s Clay Court: 1987, 1988
Women's 30s Clay Court: 1992
Women's 40s Hard Court: 2004
Doubles
Open Division Clay Courts: 1987
Women's 25s Clay Courts: 1987, 1988
USTA National Championships
Singles Women's 30s Finalist: 1991
Women's 40s Finalist: 2001
Doubles Women's 30s Winner: 1992
Team Competitions
Carolina Cup representing Western North Carolina
Southern Senior Cup representing North Carolina
USTA Intersectional Team representing the Southern Section
USPTA Southern Division Team
Alternate for Charlotte Heat Professional Team Tennis
USA League Tennis Women's 5.0 team in Charlotte
Other Championships Charlotte City Open Singles: 1984, 1985, 1985, 1987, 1988
USPTA National Team Champion: 1993
USTA National 35s Intersectional Team Champion: 1999
USA League Tennis Women's 5.0 State Champions: 2004