Kei Kato first picked up a racket at the age of six, alongside her sisters. “My dad first introduced me to the game because his love for the game is unmatched,” recalled Kato on why she first started to play tennis. She further elaborated on the support her dad has given throughout her career stating “he’s been beside me all the way.” During her middle school years, Kato would realize that tennis is something she would want to pursue past the junior level, making it a goal to reach the Division I level in California.
Kato committed to the University of California, Riverside (UCR) out of high school and joined the roster in 2022. Later that season, she was diagnosed with chronic spine injuries. The diagnosis forced her to step away from the sport for a year. Not being able to play the sport that she loved was mentally and physically difficult for Kato.
Doctors told her that she should retire from the sport entirely and that a future in tennis was unlikely. However the senior expressed that she “believed that I could come back and I wanted to come back really badly.” She became consistent with rehab, doing physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around her spine. Eventually, Kato made her return to the sport in 2024.
On March 9, 2026, Kato was named UCR Athletics Student-Athlete of the Week. The Aliso Viejo native noted she felt honored and grateful to be named Student-Athlete of the Week, and reflected, “I feel like I’m being recognized for the hard work that I put in on the court and off the court.”
Kato has taken on a leadership role within UCR women’s tennis, especially as a senior. Kato shared that she hopes to lead by example and be a good role model that underclassmen can look up to. When it comes to mentoring younger players, Kato pointed out that she likes to mentor the mental side of the sport.
She noted that unnecessary pressure can be common, so remembering why they are here at the end of the day is important. The senior added that the mental shift from playing tennis individually in the juniors to playing for a team in the college is an important one, and guiding them that way is significant.
Along with balancing school and being a Division I athlete, Kato likes to coach in her spare time. She started out when she was younger, helping her coaches run clinics. “I like working with kids, and I like being able to be a part of their developmental stage,” remarked Kato. She went on to say that she finds fulfillment seeing the younger players improve and grow in tennis.
Looking back at her time here, Kato hopes people would remember her as someone who worked hard and was a good teammate. She also recalled her favorite moment as a Highlander being the trip the team took to the University of Oregon in the beginning of the season. Not only did they pick up a win against Seattle University, but the team was able to spend quality time with each other allowing them to grow closer.
After graduation, Kato will be attending Saint Mary’s College for her Masters of Business Administration. She will also be playing another season of tennis with the Gaels. Kato noted she is looking forward to expanding her experience playing Division I tennis as well as furthering her education. While she knows she enjoys the business world, Kato is unsure of what the future has in store for her. “I would definitely love to come back to the tennis world, maybe to pursue coaching.
