Success could lead to changes for La Reina girls' tennis team
Regents a contender for TVL title
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers GRIP IT AND RIP IT- La Reina's Lauren Toohey nails a forehand shot during a recent practice session. The Regents are 7-2 thus far.

La Reina High tennis head coach Bowie Hahn doesn't want his team to change leagues.

With the way the Tri-Counties Athletic Association is set up, the top two teams from the Frontier League will merge with the top three teams in the fiveteam TriValley League next year.

Hahn believes the Regents, who are 7-2 overall and 2-1 in league, will be one of the top three teams.

"Villanova Prep and Nordhoff lost a lot of players to graduation, so I believe that it's going to be between us and Oak Park for the league title," Hahn said. "This team is a fun one to coach because they have all adopted the coaching philosophy I have of rip and grip tennis."

Hahn, who's in his fourth year at La Reina, also likes his team's depth.

The Regents returned many players from last year's squad, including senior co-captains Sierra Jones and Lauren Murvin, who play together as the No. 2 doubles teams. Murvin said the duo is playing together much better in their final season at La Reina.

"It never really worked that well when Sierra and I played together in doubles because we are such good friends," Murvin said. "We didn't talk that much on the court, and we would just know in our heads when the other person was upset on the court.

"This year we talked to each other before the season and said, 'Hey, it's our last season here. Let's make it memorable and talk more on the court.'"

While Murvin and Jones are playing better, so is the No. 1 doubles team of juniors Lauren Toohey and Megan Winter. According to Hahn, the duo has improved their aggressiveness on the court, and its lead to a 25-5 record early in the season.

Another player with an outstanding record is No. 1 singles player Ellie Workman.

"Ellie is probably our best player on the team," Hahn said. "She's a very good athlete, and she has improved on her serve a lot over the offseason."

Workman had more time to concentrate on tennis after she quit playing club soccer two years ago. Workman said she still loves soccer- she was wearing a soccer T-shirt during the interview- but added that she's glad she stuck with tennis.

"Tennis is different from soccer, because with soccer it seemed you always had a game or practice to be at," she said. "With tennis, you have to force yourself to practice more on your game by going out on your own.

"I still miss playing club soccer a little, but I'm happy with the decision I made. I like the individual aspect of tennis. If you beat the other girl in tennis, it's because you are better, not someone else."

The singles team lost one of its best players from last season when Zoe Sophos left La Reina to play tennis at Moorpark High. Other players have stepped up in her place.

Taurie Bjerken became the No. 2 singles player this season while sophomore Jodi Loo is the Regents' No. 3.

"The singles team has definitely done its job this season, while I think the doubles team is just pulling their weight right now," Hahn said.

"I would say that's because it's harder to have good doubles teams in high school because all the club players compete only in singles before they come to high school. Our doubles team will get better; they just need to do a better job of closing out games."

No matter who's playing singles or who's playing doubles, Hahn said this season's team has great chemistry.

"It's a very cohesive team," Hahn said. "I've had no personality conflicts this season. The team is already pretty close with them all going to a private school, but it seems that everyone on the team are also really good friends and interested in making the team better. They have had some team gatherings, and at one of them they worked together to make their team sweatshirt and team banner."

If Hahn gets his wish, the team may be making another banner at the end of the year, only this one will have a league championship on it.