Rossouw Norval
Men's Tennis
Class: Senior
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Tell us about your family.
I have a pretty big family with 2 brothers and 1 sister, as well as 3 step brothers and 2 step sisters. We also have 3 dogs and 2 cats.
Tell us about your hobbies.
I like to spend my free time with my friends, outdoors, or reading a good book.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza. No doubt about it.
What are some small things that make your day better?
Music and good food.
What is something you're determined to accomplish one day?
Find a job that I am excited to do every day.
How has your unique Samford experience positioned you to reach your goals?
It has helped me meet a lot of good people as well as present me with a lot of opportunities.
What has been your most memorable academic experience?
My most memorable academic experiences have been Dr. Belski's (Accounting) tests.
What are some of your major takeaways from your time as a Samford student-athlete so far?
I learned a lot about being on a team and transitioning from a individual sport to more of a team environment. I also learned a lot concerning how to manage a difficult schedule with school and tennis and reaching my potential in both areas.
Who has had the greatest impact on your time here at Samford? Please share why.
The tennis team. Every member who has been part of the team my 4 years has had some kind of impact on me. I have much to thank all my teammates for as well as my coach.
How would your teammates describe you both on and off the court?
My teammates would describe me as hardworking.
Share with us how you handled the quarantine last spring/summer after the season was shut down? Did you return to South Africa or stay in the US? Did you have a practice partner, and how much tennis were you able to play?
I stayed in the US because I was not sure if the borders were going to close and for how long. Luckily, I had someone to play tennis with throughout the summer. Overall, the summer was still fun and I tried to make the best of the situation.
The tennis teams are some of the most diverse groups on campus. How is the communication within the team with so many different countries represented (US, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Tunisia, Peru, etc.)?
Something the tennis team teaches you is how to communicate with people who have different backgrounds, cultures, and ideals than you. When you join the team, everyone has the same goals and objectives, and that is one simple thing that helps with communication. Of course, sometimes it takes some trial and error to figure out how to properly communicate with someone, but our team culture is strong enough to allow for that process.
What are some of your favorite/least favorite things about living in the US compared to South Africa?
I like the friendly culture that the people in the south have. I always feel very welcome and South Africa has a similar culture. One of the things that the US does not have is all our animals.
The team had a tough schedule early (including Alabama and Auburn) and started 0-4, but has bounced back with two consecutive wins over North Alabama and UAB. What kind of improvement have you seen out of the team over the last week?
The team is continuously building on the things we are doing well, and working on the things we are struggling with. Every day we work to improve, and we will continue to work to become the best possible team we can be. This is definitely part of the reason that we are winning games.
Where do you feel your game is at right now, and what are some areas you're working to improve?
I think this early in the season I am roughly where I am supposed to be. I hope to start playing better tennis as the season progresses and peaking when the important conference matches start. As of now, I am still working on a few small things on my forehand.
What are some expectations for both the team and yourself personally for the remainder of this season?
One important goal is to remain consistent while we practice and compete and always giving our best effort on the court. Of course, we are working towards winning our conference.
Final message from Rossouw:
I would like to thank the donors who make it possible for Samford athletes to play the sports they love and be able to pursue the degrees and careers they are interested in at the same time. We are forever grateful for the opportunity, and will continue to use the opportunity to the best of our abilities.
