In just two years at Saint Francis University, Diana Zuba became one of the most decorated players in program history. But long before she shattered records and collected conference awards, she was simply a freshman stepping onto a small campus in rural Pennsylvania, unsure of what college tennis would demand of her.

"Saint Francis was a very small school in the middle of nowhere," Zuba said. "But I really liked the team and the coaching staff. They made me feel extremely welcomed and taught me what it meant to play for something bigger than myself."

During her time at SFU, she earned NEC Player of the Year honors, was a two-time All-NEC First Team singles selection, a First Team doubles pick in 2025, and a two-time member of the NEC All-Tournament Team. As a freshman in 2024, she was named NEC Rookie of the Year, and across her career she collected four NEC Player of the Week awards while breaking multiple program records. Yet what she remembers most has nothing to do with her own résumé.

"For the first time in SFU history, we were preseason No. 1," she recalled. "And we made the conference final for the first time. Those team accomplishments mean more to me than anything I did individually."

Still, one milestone stands out among her personal achievements. In 2025 Zuba set the SFU single-season wins record with 27. "Making history meant a lot to me," she said. "It was during SFU's transition to Division III and was one of the last years as a Division I program. That made it special."

As the program prepared to transition fully to Division III, Zuba faced a crossroads. Competing at a lower level wouldn't challenge her the way she needed. She had accomplished what she set out to do at SFU—it was time for something new.

"I felt like my job was done at SFU," she said. "I knew my game and myself, and I felt like I could thrive and accomplish even more somewhere else."

That somewhere became Coastal Carolina.

Zuba was drawn to CCU's level of competition, coaching staff, resources, and—admittedly—the coastal sunshine and lifestyle. But the jump from a small, isolated campus to Coastal came with challenges.

"Everything at CCU is different from SFU. It's a bigger school with a bigger campus, and living off campus was new for me. At SFU we were indoors all year. Here, we're always outside," she said. "Adapting to new courts, the environment, and especially the wind has been a big adjustment."

What made the transition easier was the support she found immediately.

"My favorite part about CCU is my team," she said. "They helped welcome me and made me feel like I belong. I get along with them great and I love spending time with them. And the coaches helped me fit in and made sure I was comfortable from the start."

Now at Coastal, Zuba looks to carry her momentum into a new chapter — and make her mark all over again.

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