Senior tennis player Billy Paluch is heading into his final matches as a Creighton Bluejay.

After redshirting last year, Paluch is now a fifth-year senior. Creighton’s top singles player hails from  South Dakota.

Paluch said he chose Creighton because he was impressed by the university’s finance program being nationally ranked, as well as the balance between academics and athletics that it offers. The fact he would be able to compete right away was also a deciding factor in his choice to commit to Creighton.

It hasn’t been an easy journey for Paluch. During his senior year, he suffered a Jones fracture in his foot, thus causing him to sit out the rest of the year while recovering. However, he applied for and received a medical redshirt.

He is now back for his fifth and  final year.

“It’s been an unbelievable opportunity to finish a good career and finish it strong with a great group of guys out playing with me,” Paluch said. “It’s meant a ton to come back and  finish strong.”

Throughout the fall season, Paluch dealt with soreness and the continuation of rehab for his injury. He has also had to overcome the obstacle of suffering a blood clot in his calf after his injury, forcing him off his feet, and later into a walking boot.

“I hit rock bottom at that point,” Paluch said. “One of the toughest thing is not knowing if you can get back at the level you felt like you were at, more mentally draining than anything.”

Now, Paluch said he is back to 100 percent and has had no complications as the spring season has picked up.

Through the ups and downs of his injury, he has been affected not only as a player, but as a person. Paluch said he now has a different perspective on the game; it has made him realize that in a matter of one step his career could  be over.

Coming to the end of his college tennis career, one of Paluch’s favorite memories has been the traditional spring break trip the team takes to Florida.

“It’s a fun time of the year, as college basketball is going on and all of the guys get to hang out together away from school for a week,” Paluch said.

This year’s trip had added meaning for Paluch, however. While in Florida, Paluch moved into first place all time in Creighton history in combined wins. Paluch was also named Big East Men’s Tennis Player of the Week for his performance in Orlando. His win total is up to 141 (not including Wednesday’s result against Portland State), and with six matches left in the season before the Big East championships, that number will continue to climb.

“I can’t say enough about Billy as a person and a player. We will miss him a lot on and off the court,” tennis coach Tom Lilly said. “We were very fortunate to have had him these past five years. He’s amazing.”

After he wraps up his college career, Paluch said he plans to continue playing and  coaching tennis.