[2] as well as the Block "S" Award at Stanford University as the most outstanding female athlete across all sports in the freshmen class.

The highlight of Irvin's junior career was winning the 1997 US Open title in girls' doubles, partnering Alexandra Stevenson as well as reaching a national ranking of No.

64, and played her first WTA semifinal (upsetting Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario en route) during the Big Island Championships.

51 in August the following year, and beat Justine Henin at the Bank of the West Classic for her biggest career win.

Irvin had professional wins over Justine Henin, Jelena Janković, Dinara Safina, Anastasia Myskina, Meghann Shaughnessy, Elena Bovina, Amy Frazier, Gisela Dulko, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Marion Bartoli.

Her father, Richard, was a three-time All-American volleyball player at the University of California, Los Angeles, and led his team to three straight national titles.