Moldova to Appalachia: Arina Gamretkaia’s World-Wide Journey in Tennis
- kmarchak2
- Jun 28
- 3 min read
By Kyle Marchak
5,088 miles.
That’s how far Virginia Tech Women’s Tennis’ (4-1) newest star has traveled to reach Blacksburg. But for senior Arina Gamretkaia, the journey to becoming a Hokie has taken far more than a plane ticket.
A potential top scorer for the team, Gamretkaia was born and raised in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova—a small Eastern European country of just 2.5 million.
She picked up her first racket at age four, inspired by her grandfather, Alexander, who discovered tennis at 45 and played for decades.
“He was a 20-year amateur and wanted me to try tennis because of his love for it,” Gamretkaia said. “He set up my entire career—he found me my first coach.”
Alexander was right to believe in her. She competed at the highest levels of amateur tennis in Moldova and became a top ITF prospect as a teen.
While international athletes make up roughly 25% of Division I college tennis, most hail from powerhouses like France, Spain, or Germany. Moldova, with limited tennis infrastructure, presented a different challenge.
“In juniors, I did well in international tournaments, but I didn’t have many travel opportunities... I almost quit tennis during COVID,” she recalled.
“I realized I still wanted to play, and going to the U.S. was the best option. It was my parents’ dream for me to play college tennis here and get an education. They’ve supported me since day one.”
Her parents, Ecaterina Gamretkaia and Igor Stoicev, saw college tennis as a path to both a degree and a professional career.
And so, she went.
In 2021, Gamretkaia flew to Tampa, Florida, to start her college career at JUCO powerhouse Hillsborough Community College. She immediately locked down the No. 1 singles and doubles spots and ranked in the top two nationally.
In 2023, she led Hillsborough to a Team JUCO National Championship.
"It was a crazy feeling. One of the biggest joys I've ever experienced."
Before her junior year, Gamretkaia took the next step: Division I tennis. She transferred to McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
“It’s stressful,” she said. “I had to change visas with each transfer. I learned how to respond to stress and work under pressure.”
With the support of her husband, Max Calincov, she navigated those challenges.
“I’m so grateful for Max. After two years of long distance, he moved to the States for me.” Max, who had graduated in Europe, relocated to Louisville, Kentucky in 2023. The couple now await Arina’s graduation in May 2026.
For international athletes like Gamretkaia, family is an essential support system. Tennis, in particular, has a strong international presence at Virginia Tech: five of the 13 women’s players and eight of the 13 men’s players are from outside the U.S.
“Watching her... she’s a fighter,” said Emma Treptow, a sophomore and the team’s Sports Information Director. “It takes a special personality to manage the challenges of international travel and college athletics.”
Men’s tennis SID Katelyn Ford echoed the sentiment: “It definitely takes a certain level of toughness—it’s not for the faint of heart.”
Gamretkaia embodies that mindset. In her lone season at McNeese, she went 15-3 in singles and helped the team reach the Southland Conference Championship final.
Still, she wanted more.
“I wanted a bigger school and a stronger schedule to prepare me for the professional circuit.”
By summer 2024, Virginia Tech Head Coach Terry Ann Zawacki-Holdren reached out, seeking to bolster the Hokies’ roster ahead of the fall.
“She’s been a great addition,” Zawacki-Holdren said.
After a solid fall tournament season, Gamretkaia earned her spot as one of Tech’s top performers in singles and doubles play.
Last Sunday, Virginia Tech defeated in-state rival James Madison 6-1—its fourth straight dual match win. Now 4-1, the Hokies are off to their best start since 2022, and Gamretkaia has been central to that momentum. Her doubles partnership with freshman Linda Ziets-Segura is 3-1 this spring, including a doubles point clincher against ETSU on January 26. In the season opener vs. Duke, Gamretkaia and Ziets-Segura were the only Hokies to win their match.
Despite a journey spanning eight time zones, separation from her family and husband, and countless transitions, Gamretkaia stays grounded in her purpose.
“It’s not about me—it’s about the team. I just want to make an impact and help this team succeed.
We want to go as far as possible.”
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