GREENVILLE, S.C. – Following four years competing in Conference Carolinas, Converse University women's tennis player Laurel Maynor is set to embark on an exciting new chapter this fall, making the move to England where she will continue both her tennis career and education as a postgraduate student-athlete.
 
The South Carolina native will embark on a 12-month postgraduate journey in the UK after accepting a postgraduate scholarship at one of the country’s top sporting universities. Alongside pursuing her master's in the Psychology of Sport and Exercise, she'll return to the court for another season, extending her student-athlete journey while experiencing life overseas.

Named 2026 Conference Carolina’s Player To Watch, Laurel represented Converse University with distinction throughout her collegiate career, serving as team captain for three seasons. Her leadership, commitment and passion for the programs made her an integral member of the Valkyries, culminating in the opportunity to continue competing beyond NCAA graduation.

Following a competitive recruitment process that attracted interest from universities across the UK, Laurel carefully considered several postgraduate scholarship opportunities before committing to one of the UK’s leading university tennis programs.
 
Laurel's move reflects a growing trend among Conference Carolinas student-athletes who are choosing the UK to extend their athletic careers after graduation. In the past few years, several former Conference Carolinas players across a range of different sports have made the move overseas including Oliver Winterhagen (Mount Olive), Kathryn Laughlin (Belmont Abbey), and Alicia McClellan (Shorter).
 
Unlike NCAA competition, UK eligibility rules allow graduates to continue competing alongside their postgraduate studies, creating a unique opportunity to combine another year of collegiate sport
with a master's degree.

While the chance to continue competing initially sparked Laurel's interest, several other factors influenced her decision to make the move overseas. Master's degrees in the UK are typically completed in just 12 months, tuition costs are often lower than comparable US programs, and former NCAA student-athletes can frequently secure substantial athletic scholarships based on their collegiate experience.
 
Laurel was supported throughout the entire process by UK-based company Play Overseas, which provides a free service to graduating and former student-athletes, helping them identify postgraduate scholarship opportunities that allow them to further both their athletic careers and education overseas.
 
Play Overseas is currently recruiting student-athletes for 2027 entry and beyond. Any student who wishes to explore the possibility of playing a further year of college sport in the UK while pursuing a master’s degree can register their interest here: https://app.playoverseas.co.uk/register.