BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Academic and tennis scholarships have meant an opportunity for Veronika Prospalova to not only continue her tennis career and pursue a challenging academic major, but also to expand an already extensive circle of family and friends.
 
A double major in finance and international business, Prospalova is not only an honors student, but also heavily involved in the international student subcommittee of Campbell University's Student-Athlete Advisory committee.
 
For a student-athlete whose teammates over the past three years have arrived in Buies Creek from 12 different countries, including the USA, it's more than appropriate that Prospalova is involved with a group that helps international students feel welcome in a small community located in the Sandhills of North Carolina.
 
Prospalova's journey to Campbell is especially unique.  Her parents are natives of the Czech Republic.  Veronika was born in Anaheim, Calif., but has called Florida, Ohio and New York home as well. 
 
The reason for so many moves?
 
The father of Veronika and her three siblings is Václav "Vinny" Prospal, who played for seven different teams in a 16-season career as a forward in the National Hockey League.
 
After Vinny's playing career ended in 2013, the family settled in Tampa.  There – despite a relatively late start – Veronika developed into one of the top junior tennis players in Florida.  Those credentials prompted Campbell head coach Mike Stevens to offer a package that included athletic and academic scholarships.
 
To Veronika, the meaning of those scholarships can be summarized in one word.
 
"Opportunity," she says.  "The opportunity to continue to play the sport that I love and being able to experience new things. Traveling with the team to different schools, playing tournaments in the fall, and being able to experience new places, meeting new people. Having teammates from all over the world.  Six to eight different girls from all over the world become one family here.  Truly, my scholarship is an opportunity to keep playing the sport I love."
 
The generosity of Fighting Camel fans, alumni, family, and friends truly makes a difference in the lives of student-athletes at Campbell University.  Through the newly created Women's Empowerment Fund, the Fighting Camel Club's goal is to make that experience even better, specifically for our female student-athletes.  To join the Fighting Camel Club, click here.
 
Multiple moves
Both of Veronika's parents, Vinny and Monika, were born in Czechoslovakia when the country was under communist rule.  They moved to the U.S. after he was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1993. 
 
After spending three seasons with the Hershey (Pa.) Bears of the American Hockey League, Vinny was called up to the Flyers and made his NHL debut on Mar. 5, 1997, against the New Jersey Devils. Over the next 16 seasons, he appeared in more than 1100 regular season games and 65 playoff contests while playing for the Flyers, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets.
 
Veronika's older brother, Vinny, was born in Ottawa, she was born in Anaheim, and her younger sisters, Vanessa and Vivian were born in Tampa.  Not only did they move every few years as their father moved from team to team in the NHL, but they spent a large part of the summer back home in the Czech Republic, which was formed Dec. 31, 1992, as the former Czechoslovakia was peacefully split into the independent states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
 
While Vinny Prospal was pursuing his trade as a professional athlete, it was Veronika's mother, Monika, who kept things running in a family of six.
 
"My mom is the backbone of our family," says Veronika.  "If it wasn't for her, my dad wouldn't have had the career he had, and my siblings and I wouldn't have had the childhood we had.  My mom was the glue. She was never freaking out.  This was a different country for her.  She didn't speak much English coming here, then she had us along the way.  Because my mom was always so excited about moving, we were like 'Yes! New house, new school, new friends!'"
 
Whether they were supporting the Senators, Ducks, Panthers, Lightning, Flyers, Rangers or Blue Jackets, the Prospals wore the jersey, complete with name and number on the back, for each team of Vinny's teams. 
 
Even though her father was in the public spotlight, Veronika always viewed him as her dad first.
 
"It was a wonderful time," she says of growing up the daughter of a famous parent. "As humbly as I can say, it was an experience that really shaped my childhood. Not only did it kind of show us the inside of sports but also motivated all of us to give it our all.  But in the end, I see him as my dad, rather than how someone else sees him as a player for a hockey team. We would always go to games to root for him.  We would always have his number and our last names on our jerseys. We were his number one fans.  It was awesome. I would go back in time and do it again."
 
While her older brother followed his namesake into hockey, Veronika tried a number of athletic and artistic pursuits before focusing on tennis.
 
"Growing up, my mom and dad had us try everything," said Veronika, whose favorite team is still the Tampa Bay Lightning.  "Ballet, figure skating, hockey, soccer stuck with me for a solid seven to eight years.  I tried tennis early on, but it didn't stick.  At the age of 12 or 13 my mom asked me to give tennis a shot again.  I started taking lessons, getting into it, the hand-eye coordination was clicking. About a year later, I focused on (tennis)."
 
Despite a relatively late start to her junior career, Veronika's ranking rose number 19 in Florida and No. 161 in the nation.  That success gave her the confidence to continue her career on the collegiate level.
 
"I was winning matches, doing well, moving up in the rankings. I knew I wanted to go to college play four more years, and be a student-athlete," she said.
 
Why Campbell?
Stevens, a lifelong Philadelphia Flyers fan, offered an academic and athletic package that brought the daughter of a former Flyer to Buies Creek.
 
"Campbell provided me with the best opportunity with tennis and academics," Veronika said.  "Combining that was the goal for me. The people have been amazing; all the friends I've made are basically family now."
 
Choosing Campbell also figured in Veronika meeting her now longtime boyfriend Douglas Nordlof, a native of Sweden and member of the men's golf team.
 
In the transfer portal era and while some of her teammates pursued different opportunities, Veronika remained steadfast in her initial college choice.
 
"For me, it's the place I chose, the place that has kept choosing me to come back," she said.  "Why change? Of course, the people are here. I just love it. I met Douglas here. Campbell really has given me a lot of opportunities and helped me grow as a person in many, many different ways."
 
In addition to being a contributor both in singles and doubles, Veronika has distinguished herself as a CAA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Big South Presidential Honor Roll performer while pursuing a double major.
 
Furthermore, she is involved in the Campbell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  Her unique background growing up makes her quite suited to helping international students adjust to a new language, new environment and customs in addition to the demands of being a Division I student-athlete.
 
"We really emphasize the importance of the international students and how important they are here," said Veronika of the SAAC international students subcommittee.  "A lot them are really far away from home and it's a big culture shock.  Some people are ready for it, and some have a harder time adjusting.  We are trying to ease that homesickness."
 
The international student subcommittee hosts regular events like a bonfire – complete with S'mores – and the annual international student dinner that features a different cuisine each year.
 
One might wonder why a student-athlete who competes in a sports with both fall and spring seasons, would choose a double major in one of Campbell's most rigorous areas of study.
 
"At first, I was worried that the workload would be too much, but I love it," said Prospalova.  "As a student-athlete, you don't have as much time, but here, you can always balance it out. I was looking for something that was academically vigorous. Being able to end up with two degrees is awesome (in four years)."
 
Individual attention from professors and small class sizes are a bonus.
 
"I love the professors here and the class sizes. Not only does that allow you get to know the professors, but the professor gets to know you," she said.  "Usually, you're not going to have those professors for just one class, but for multiple classes.  You are able to talk to them freely, ask them questions, and they can help you one-on-one and help you get the most out of it here."
 
Similar to the aftermath of winning a hard-fought three-set match, Veronika enjoys the learning process and accomplishment she feels in the classroom.
 
"I love the academic validation when my hard work pays off," she said.  "When I'm working hard in these classes that I chose, it's a reward at the end because I've learned something."
 
Tennis and golf
On the court, Prospalova's strength is her two-handed back hand.  Admittedly, her favorite players are Czech, including former World No. 2 and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitová, former World No. 1 doubles player Kateřina Siniaková and 2023 Wimbledon champ Markéta Vondroušová.
 
Her boyfriend is also a tennis player, who competed in the sport back home in Sweden for seven years before focusing on golf, which ultimately led him to Buies Creek.
 
"I joke with Douglas about that he's played tennis longer than I have," said Prospalova, who has also started playing golf when her schedule allows.  "Whenever we have time, I'm getting into golf, and he loves going out to play tennis with me.  I still have (the advantage) on the tennis court, but he has it much more on the golf course."
 
The game of golf also provided a common interest when Douglas met her family.
 
"My grandpa plays golf, mom played golf growing up, my dad plays golf for fun as well, my brother plays golf, so when Douglas met my family, it just clicked," said Veronika.  "Just like tennis, it's a sport you can play for the rest of your life.  It's frustrating when the ball doesn't go where you want it to go, but it's a lot of fun."
 
This summer, Veronika plans to play plenty of tennis (and golf) while preparing for her senior season. She will divide the time between Florida, Czech and Sweden.
 
What's next?
As for her senior year, her goals are simple.
 
"To just have the best year here yet, best academic year, have fun in school and class and have as much success in tennis that I can, to have as much fun on the court as possible," she says.  "Even throughout all the conditioning to just enjoy every second of it."
 
Beyond graduation in the spring of 2026, Veronika wants to continue her academic career.
 
"I've always had a dream to do a master's in Europe," she says.  "Wherever the opportunity lies, either here in the States or Europe, to just experience a new place."
 
Whatever she has accomplished as a student-athlete and double major, Veronika is quick to praise her family for providing the atmosphere and opportunity to pursue her goals.
 
"I have to give all credit to my mom and dad," she said.  "My mom and dad have been my rock all my life.  Without them, who knows where I'd be right now, or how much life would have been different.  Going from Czech to the States opened up so many opportunities for me and my siblings. It opened up another side of the world to us."
 
Q&A with Veronika Prospalova
 
Favorite places I've visited
Croatia was gorgeous, Iceland is very beautiful, and I'm also quite biased to Sweden.
 
What it's like growing up the daughter of a professional athlete
I'm super proud of my dad. He built a career from scratch. It was never handed to him. He had to work so, so hard.  It just really showed he had the drive for it, and how important a support system is.  How much love is in a family of six.
 
Favorite hockey team
It was always the teams my dad played for.  Now we root for the Tampa Bay Lightning
 
Favorite tennis players
Petra Kvitová (former World No. 2 and two-time Wimbledon champion)
Kateřina Siniaková (former World No. 1 doubles player)
Markéta Vondroušová (2023 Wimbledon champion, Olympic Silver medalist)
 
Clay or Hard courts
Hard courts.  I like the faster game, faster pace. I love it when I hit a good serve, and the opponent can't return it.  On clay, it's almost a whole different sport, a game of much more patience.
 
Favorite major championship
Wimbledon. It's historic, legendary, tradition
 
My strength on the tennis court
A lot of people, their strength is their forehand, by mine has always been my backhand.