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Preps

King girls could have what it takes

The Lions are confident about making a run at the state team championship.

By EMILY NIPPS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 11, 2003

TAMPA -- King tennis coach Carole Pressick is trying her best to be cautiously optimistic. As coach of several state qualifiers over the years, she knows what injuries and upsets can do to her high hopes.

She is trying not to count on too much, not to put too much pressure on her girls.

It's really hard.

"This team is so strong," she said, "it's almost frightening."

She was being modest. The Lions, with an influx of some of the state's top freshman to add to their state-ranked returning starters, aren't just strong enough to make it to the Class 3A state tournament. They might be strong enough to be state title contenders.

"I don't want to jinx myself," No. 2 player Linda Tien said. "But I'm really excited."

It's an elusive feat to win as a team in Florida, where some schools are affiliated with tennis academies and the same teams tend to win every year. Most public schools have sprinklings of club players here and there, producing an occasional individual champion or doubles team.

King has such a talented team, which goes deep into its sixth and seventh players (and beyond), that the players sometimes get stronger competition at practice than at club training.

"They're so intense," Pressick said. "They know the possibility (of going to state) is there. These are fighters, and they're all friends. They just push and push and push each other."

Pressick coached her 1998 Lions to a third-place state finish. These girls, she said, are better.

The top two, sophomore Laura Gioia and junior Tien, won an individual doubles title last year, falling to Countryside pair Jennifer Dent and Evangelina Soriano in the overall doubles final. Gioia is ranked sixth in Florida 16s, and Tien was recently bumped up to the 18s where she resides at No. 101.

Newcomers Brooke Allen (49th in 16s) and Paige Kensrue (60th in 14s) fill out the Lion's No. 3 and No. 4 positions. Junior Jen Fiorica, last season's No. 3, is the fifth player.

"We have strong positions throughout," Gioia said. "I think if our team got to state together, we'd cheer each other on and I think we could have a chance."

Pressick plans to play her backups, including state-ranked Sarah Meade, in situations where Gioia and Tien might overmatch their opponents.

Last season, the Lions were undefeated until they met Bradenton Lakewood Ranch and lost three of five singles matches and one doubles match to end their run at the region tournament. King could face the Mustangs again, but Pressick is hopeful the Mustangs won't be the roadblock to state this year.

"You just don't know what might happen," Pressick said. "You have to hope there are no injuries to your top players ... anything could happen."

She'll be crossing her fingers.

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