POCATELLO, Idaho – Lola Ó Lideadha and Sol Ó Lideadha joined the women's tennis team from Dublin, Ireland. The twin sisters have found a home in Pocatello where they have begun living out their college tennis dream.
"Tennis isn't a big sport in Ireland, so it kind of is hard to find people to play with," said Lola Ó Lideadha. "I was always lucky to have Sol to play with because we were always really competitive with each other."
Tennis started out as a fun family activity. The twins played at local tennis clubs with their dad. At the age of 15, the twin sisters started to take tennis more seriously when they found out about opportunities to pursue their tennis in the United States.
"I always knew that after secondary school I wanted to do more tennis but in Ireland it isn't really a thing," said Lola Ó Lideadha. "If you are playing college tennis in Ireland maybe once a year you might have a match, so it isn't a big thing."
"We didn't really think we were good enough. We didn't know how to do it and how to get a scholarship," said Sol Ó Lideadha. "Mark Finnigan is our agent… and we went to one of his lectures one day and set up a hit with him. After he said we were definitely good enough and then we realized we were good enough. From there we trained 24/7 and we started to win more in tournaments. We just enjoyed it ten times more because we had something to work for."
Both twins say the decision to become a Bengal was the best choice for them. At Idaho State, they were able to each secure a spot on the team and experience a new life playing college tennis in the United States together.
"We really liked Gretchen and that was the main thing, Gretchen was so nice to us and she seemed really positive about our play," said Sol Ó Lideadha. "We wanted to play Division I for sure and then being together as well. It was everything when we set out to get a scholarship, Idaho State ticked every box."
"I don't think it was too hard coming over here, I think we were both so excited to get here that as soon as we were here we just wanted to experience everything and so I think I was never nervous coming here I always felt like I was going to fit in straight away," said Lola Ó Lideadha. "The transition has been so easy, and everyone is so kind and nice and my teammates have been so welcoming too, so it has been easy."
With the tennis season just getting underway, the twins are excited to be continuing their doubles play alongside one another at the college level.
"I am really excited to play with her. It is so fun. We sort of know each other so well," said Sol Ó Lideadha. "Some people are like 'Can you read each other's minds?' and we sort of can on the court. I know where she is going to go so I feel really comfortable playing with her and I think I will be a little less nervous because I know her so well."
In their first season for the Bengals, the twins look forward to making their mark alongside their teammates.
"I cannot wait to play the matches. Back home it is not a big team sport but here I feel like we are such a good team, so I can't wait to play the matches. It is going to be fun," said Lola Ó Lideadha.
"I feel like when we play tournaments back in Ireland you are trying to make it for yourself but here you're on a team and everyone wants you to win just as much as you want to win yourself, so I can't wait for the atmosphere and everyone playing and getting pumped," said Sol Ó Lideadha.
