Every student-athlete that attends college dreams of excelling in two areas; in the classroom and on the playing field. Olivia Fisher has exceeded those expectations in her time at the University of the Ozarks.

Olivia Fisher was named the ASC women’s tennis player of the year in 2008.

Olivia Fisher

Fisher has done her fair share as a regular everyday college student at Ozarks. She has done well in the classroom and performed well on the playing field. However, Fisher has carried a much heavier load in doing so. The Mountain Home, Arkansas native has not only participated in three varsity sports at Ozarks, but starred in all of them.

Fisher competed in basketball, soccer and tennis during her four years in Clarksville. In her final season of tennis, Fisher was honored as the American Southwest Conference player of the year.

“That was probably one of the most gratifying awards I have received in college,” said Fisher. “I told my parents after my freshman year that I wanted to be player of the year in one of the sports at Ozarks.”

Fisher also earned conference awards in basketball and soccer at Ozarks. In basketball, she was named to the all-conference and academic all-conference teams. For her performance in soccer, she also earned all-conference and academic all-conference honors.

Following the conclusion of the 2007-08 school year, the athletic department named Fisher the women’s athlete of the year.

As Fisher reflects on what brought her to Ozarks, she is still very happy with her college decision.

“I was recruited a day apart by soccer and tennis [at Ozarks],” said Fisher. “I came for a visit and I knew right then that this was the place for me.”

It was sports that lured Fisher to campus, but the academics at Ozarks have helped set her up for a very rewarding future. She is on schedule to graduate this May with a degree in biology, while earning minors in management, chemistry and health. She hopes the combination of these areas will help her land a spot in either dental or pharmacy school.

“I haven’t decided which way I want to go yet,” said Fisher. “I’ll go into either school.”

While Fisher is deciding between dental and pharmacy school, she says she has an interest in research and helping others.

“Going into the research field is not only something that is beneficial to me, but others can receive rewards from it as well.”

Topics: Athletics