FARMVILLE, Va. – It has been nearly 17 years since Rosen Ilchev lived in his native Bulgaria, but the country of about seven million people in Eastern Europe is still dear to him.
 
Last summer Ilchev, a freshman tennis player for the Longwood men, made another return trip to Bulgaria. Both of his parents were born there and still have extended family in Sofia, the capital, and other regions. Bulgaria borders Romania to the north and Serbia to the west.
 
"A lot of people know each other," says Ilchev, during a recent on-campus interview. "It is like one big family, and there is a lot of food."
 
His mother, Irena, played volleyball as a girl in Bulgaria, while his father, Stan, played soccer. They immigrated to Canada when Ilchev was less than three and then moved to the Portland, Oregon area about eight years later when his mother took a job with NIKE. Both of his parents are dual citizens of Bulgaria and Canada.
 
Ilchev was four or five when he began playing tennis in Bulgaria. "My family took me out to my cousins; my cousins were good in tennis. One cousin is now a coach in Bulgaria and another cousin is playing in France," says the serious-minded Ilchev, who comes across more mature than most 19 year-olds.
 
A 5-foot-10 lefty, Ilchev spent one academic year at a tennis camp in Spain. He returned to North America and played one year for his high school, Beaverton, near Portland. So how did he end up in Farmville, nearly 3,000 miles from his Oregon home?
 
"He found out about Longwood and we had him here for a visit," said Jakob Gustafsson, the Lancers' head coach. "I saw his recruiting video, which is very common for a sport like tennis."
 
Last fall, in his first semester, Ilchev struggled with ankle and knee problems, and saw action in just five singles and two doubles matches with no wins. But Gustafsson is excited about his future.
 
"He is a lefty, which makes it difficult for opponents. The backhand is one of his better shots. His determination is what will make him successful, not just coming back from the injury," Gustafsson says. "He hates losing and he hates under-performing, whether it is in practice or a match."
 
Ilchev says he doesn't rely on one style of play.
 
"I try to be an all-court player," he says. "I try to do everything on the court. I try to adapt to the opponent. If I play a guy that likes to sit back all day, I will try and make him come to the net. And I am willing to sit back there all day, too," and hit from the baseline.
 
After doing rehab on his injury, Ilchev returned to the court in practice in late February, but has not competed this spring.
 
"We are pretty excited to have him," said Longwood junior Steed Johnson, a co-captain. "He is a lefty and he has that grinding style. We thought he would be really good for us. Any injury is tough, especially a knee. He has worked hard to get back on the court."
 
The Lancers have a United Nation-like roster, with players from Australia, England, Germany and the Bahamas along with North Carolina and Virginia. "It is a different way of life; we all pick up a little bit of each other," Ilchev notes. "A lot of people say 'mate,'" in reference to teammate Edward Becker of Australia.
 
On top of that the coach is from Sweden. "He stresses mental toughness," Ilchev says. "He doesn't lose his cool. He is very calm. His voice doesn't change, his demeanor doesn't change."
 
There is hardly a trace of a European accent from the Longwood freshman. "A lot of people made fun of me (and his accent) when I was younger. I worked very diligently on my English," he says. And his tennis.
 

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Editor's Note: Special consultant David Driver is a Virginia native and has covered college sports in the state for more than 20 years. He has been a staff writer for newspapers in Arlington, Springfield and Harrisonburg and has contributed to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Washington Post, Stafford County Sun and The Potomac News in Woodbridge. He was also the first sports editor for the daily Baltimore Examiner. He will continue contributing special feature content to longwoodlancers.com throughout the upcoming 2013-14 academic year as well.  A former Division III baseball player at Eastern Mennonite University, David can be reached at www.davidsdriver.com.

Previous 2013-14 Special Features
From South Africa to Longwood
Longwood Head Coach Jayson Gee Introduces PACE
Soccer is a family affair for Kelsey Pardue
Milestone win gives young team confidence
Sophomore guards have a comfort level
Atkinson has men's soccer on the rise
Work ethic pays off for Jeylani Dublin, Lancers
Montgomery makes his pitch for call up In 2014
Morris makes her pitch for another strong season