Eighteen months ago, Anouk Oderkerk left her home in Stenungsund, Sweden, to pursue a degree in biochemistry and play tennis for Thomas Jefferson University in East Falls.

This meant moving to a foreign country, away from the support of family and friends, and learning new scientific designations in a demanding academic program. And then there was the culture shock of moving from a town of 28,000 to a city where that is the size of a neighborhood.

“It was a big culture change,” Oderkerk, 20, said. “How I adjusted, I don’t really know. I just adapted to the life and didn’t really think about it.”

And boy, has she adapted, especially on the tennis court. This week, Oderkerk, a sophomore, is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, competing from Nov. 4-8 in the inaugural 2026 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II Singles and Doubles Championship. She automatically qualified for the national tournament after posting an 11-1 record and being named the 2026 Fall ITA East Regional Champion.

“Anouk is an outstanding competitor who leads by example,” says Rams tennis coach Fred Perrin. “She supports her teammates and brings a positive energy to our program. She represents the very best of Jefferson tennis on and off the court.”

Oderkerk was 6 years old the first time she picked up a tennis racket. Her father, Jeroen, a tennis player, was her coach and traveled with her to every tournament when she was growing up. And though he is an ocean away, he is still giving his daughter advice.

“We talk a lot on Facetime,” Oderkerk said. “We talk about tennis and before every match he always gives me advice. He’s very into it.”

Oderkerk came to America because she wanted to play college tennis. Sweden doesn’t have an intercollegiate athletic system. Instead, players enter tournaments as individuals, not as part of a team.

“In Sweden, I would be playing at all kinds of levels,” said Oderkerk, adding that she is honored to represent Jefferson at the ITA Championship. “Here you play against different schools and the level depends on the school you are playing.”

Like many international students interested in attending American universities to play sports, Oderkerk used one of several agencies that connect student athletes with schools. She chose Jefferson after speaking with Perrin.

“I talked to Fred and I thought they had a good tennis program,” said Oderkerk, whose father and mother, Wendy, both have doctorates in chemistry. Jefferson, she said, “has a strong [science] program. I thought it was a good combination.”

A good combination, yes. But also, “it is very different from where I’m from, the culture shock for me,” she said.

Her teammates, most of whom are also international students, have helped ease her transition to America. Now she enjoys the camaraderie of being part of a team and cheering for her teammates.

“In Sweden it was just me and my dad going to places,” said Oderkerk, who in her time at Jefferson has risen as high as the 34th ranked singles player nationally. “Now we’re all together in one van. It is a lot of fun because you cheer everyone on.”

Oderkerk admits that learning and adjusting to different scientific terms has been challenging. And while at times it can be stressful, “academically, I’ve learned a lot,” she said. And when things get too stressful, she heads for the tennis court.

“There is a lot of academic stress, a lot of things to do,” she says. “It’s hard. Tennis, for me, is fun. I forget about it when I play tennis and it’s just me hitting the ball. That is really stress relieving.”

Even with her killer forehand and national ranking, Oderkerk doesn’t think she is good enough to play on the professional tennis circuit, or really want to.

“What I really want to do is be in the lab,” she says. “Biomedicine, that is what I have always wanted to do.”