Crystal Saphire Embol enrolled at Herbert Hoover a well-regarded tennis player through the promise she had shown while attending Elkview Middle School.
When Embol won the Women’s Open Singles Division at the State Games of West Virginia last summer, it was another display of her prowess and only added to the expectations. She lived up to many of them in her freshman year with the Huskies, which reached a pinnacle when Embol captured a Cardinal Conference No. 1 singles championship this past April.
After coming up short in regional play in what marked her third loss as a ninth-grader, Embol discovered she was battling tendinitis in both elbows, an injury that forced her to take a brief period away from tennis activity altogether.
She returned to tournament play last weekend at the State Games of West Virginia, and did so in impressive fashion, winning four matches in 18-and-under play and an additional three to repeat as Women’s Open Singles Division champion in an event held at Ritter Park in Huntington.
“The key to my success was all the practice I’ve been having and the summer camps I’ve attended at Teays Valley Tennis Center,” said Embol, who added her backhand is her biggest strength at present.
Born in The Philippines, Embol has lived in Kanawha County since the age of 5, and much of her childhood has been consumed by tennis.
“I started playing tennis because I thought the outfits were really cute,” Embol said. “When I began playing, I started really liking it and wanted to be serious about it. Now, I’ve started loving it and it’s taken over my life.”
Embol credits extensive work with coach Bob Mooney, a tennis pro for more than 40 years and the Director of Tennis at Teays Valley Tennis Center, as a major reason behind her consistent upward trajectory over the last few years.
“He has done a lot for me the past two-and-a-half years and he has really helped me step up my game,” Embol said. “He’s helped calm my mindset and change my mindset and really made me push myself. That’s made me a better player.”
Through her accomplishments at the State Games of West Virginia, Embol has earned automatic qualification into next year’s State Games of America National Tennis Competition to be contested from July 28-August 2, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania.
The focus until then will be on continuing to fine-tune a game that has plenty of promise through various camps, clinics, private lessons and tournaments.
“I’m really excited about it. I’ve worked really hard and it feels surreal,” Embol said. “To win again this year was such a blessing. I’m really grateful for my family, my coach and everyone that’s supported me.”