A three-time All-American for the Cougars from 1980 to 1983, Joan Mahon-Finder was entrenched in a distinctive era of SIUE women's tennis. Mahon-Finder overpowered her opponents and hit the ball with consistency. She earned singles All-American honors in 1982 as a national quarterfinalist and again in 1983 as a national semifinalist. Mahon-Finder and teammate Lilian Almeida were national semifinalists in doubles during the 1982 season.