Pressure rises due to the loss of the No. 1 and No. 2 players for the girls? tennis team to win Valley Championship another year. With 14 players, mostly underclassmen, nerves run on edge for the returning upperclassmen to gain a 4-year streak.

?My expectations are that each girl will start the season having played all summer,? coach George Freeman said. ?Because of their play throughout the summer, we will start off better prepared and more advanced than any school in our league. I expect that each match, my girls will give 110% effort, regardless of the score.?

Some girls took advantage of the 3-month break before the season began to take lessons and play in tournaments. The instruction and experience furthers their chance of a higher ladder position once the season begins.

Jaclyn Blackwell, ?07, six-year player, is now ranked No.1. Her commitment increased as she played over the summer, for the Clovis High summer league and now with lessons on the weekends.

?I?m honored to be No. 1 with so many great athletes before me,? Blackwell said. ?I miss them all, but I?m excited for where the season will take us.?

Although the No. 1 ranked Ashley Sherr, No. 2 ranked Jenny Beckman, who has gone to Stanford after only three years of high school, and No. 6 ranked Erin Elmore, have graduated, Freeman?s expectations remain high. In addition to winning three consecutive Valley Championships, the team has not lost a league match since the 1997/1998 school year.

?Ultimately, I?d love to win Valley,? Blackwell said. ?But I?m just excited to play tennis with the team and have fun.?

The season began with a victory over Division I, Madera High, and Division III, Yosemite High. Next, Immanuel High will host the Eagles on Sept. 5.

For more information call the high school office at 299-1695, ext. 5.

For the 2006 girls’ tennis schedule, click here on Sports Schedules and/or go to the menu bar on the right.