Shepherd University Athletics

Entering her second season as a graduate assistant coach with the Shepherd men's and women's tennis programs is Mercedes Lopez Velez. Velez joined the staff prior to the 2019-20 season.

Velez played tennis at Nevada-Las Vegas from 2014-18. She graduated from UNLV in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in business administration/finance with a 3.5 GPA.  She was a two-time Academic All-Mountain West selection and a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete.

Velez hails from Madrid, Spain and is a graduate of Nuestra Senora de Loreto. She was ranked 38th in Spain in all categories and ranked No. 5 in her age group. She was also ranked No. 1 in her home city of Madrid. She helped lead her school to the 2010 championship.

Velez is pursuing a MBA degree at Shepherd.