A PEEK PERFORMANCE.

Byline: Art Avila Staff Writer

Julia Peek is easily the best player on the Valencia High girls' tennis team. The junior could be playing in tournaments competing among the best players in the area, but she prefers to play for Valencia. And she is enjoying her time.

``I prefer to play in a league because it's a team. In a tournament you're by yourself,'' Peek said. ``And all the girls on the team are my friends.''

She knows that she could become a better player competing among the best, but she has her priorities. She chooses to focus on school.

``I think it's a little much with school,'' she said about outside competition. Peek said the experience in tournaments during the summer helps her. ``Playing in a match with (top players) you'll get better. The competition is a lot tougher, especially in opens. You find girls that don't play for their schools. You don't find girls in the league that are ranked.''

Valencia coach Jeff Hollen sees the talent Peek has but understands her priorities.

``For her, she is playing the best with the time she puts into it,'' Hollen said. ``She could definitely excel. But academics is her top priority.''

School is something that Peek puts a lot of effort into. Along with being an athlete, she takes honor classes, participates in student body government and is active in academic clubs.

``Somedays I'm at school from 6:30 in the morning to 11:30 at night,'' Peek said. ``I don't find it hard to do. School is always a priority. You have to take it one step at a time. It's not hard to balance. You just have to keep priorities straight.''

Hollen likes the fact that she has different interests. ``She is not the type of athlete that says, `Hey I'm just an athlete.' She's involved in the community and stuff across the campus. In that, her maturity is great. If you had a daughter, she would be someone you want her being around.''

Even with all of her activities, Hollen knows when she is playing she is focused.

``She is the type that is diversified, but when she's there at the tennis court, that's where she's at,'' he said. ``I like to see that diversification. A lot of these girls make their life out of tennis.''

Teammate Angel Guiao is happy to have her on the team.

``I think it's important to her to be real competitive. She set goals to beat certain schools and she is playing better,'' she said.

Guiao said Peek still has time for her friends and is impressed with her attitude toward school and tennis.

``I want to have that same motivation and dedication,'' she said. ``When she's on the court, she's pretty focused. She doesn't allow anything to affect her performance.''

Guiao has played with Peek since both were freshmen and the team has improved year by year.

Peek said she has improved greatly from her freshman year.

``My head is more together. I'm a lot more concentrated and I try not let things get to me,'' she said.

Peek said a lack of concentration and falling behind in matches have hurt her in the past, but ``I've learned to let it go, to move on. I'm playing it game by game.''

One of her biggest matches came earlier this week when she defeated Burroughs' previously unbeaten Dragana Ognenovska. Ognenovska is ranked by the Daily News among the top five players in the area.

``It was elation beating the No. 1 from Burroughs,'' Peek said. ``I knew she was tough from years before. She made quite a few mistakes, but it was still a tough match.''

Peek lost to the No. 3 singles player and Valencia lost the match, but overall the team has improved from last year.

``She has been a steady force. She's been consistent,'' Hollen said. ``She's been the best I've worked with.''

Peek has an overall record of 29-9, which she is trying to improve on after her 32-18 record last year. ``She's among the top four in the league easily,'' Hollen said.

Guiao said all of her teammates look to Peek to improve their own game.

``I watch the way she plays,'' Gui`ao said. ``She makes me want to hit just as well as she does. I want to be able to play like her. I want to be able to hit like that.''

She said Peek is helpful with all the players on the team.

Other teams in the league have underestimated Valencia this year and the team has continued to improve.

``As a team, I think if we pull together during crucial moments, that we can win. Sometimes we need to get together for those matches that are real tough,'' Peek said.

Hollen describes Peek as a quiet leader.

``She goes and does her stuff and pretty much sticks to herself,'' he said.

But for the team, she is definitely a positive influence.

``She has a good work ethic. If I ask the team to do something, she starts doing it and the rest of the team naturally follows her,'' Hollen said.

And in her busy schedule, Peek enjoys being part of a team. ``These are the girls I spend the most time with,'' Peek said.

Even with little time for herself, she is enjoying herself.

``This is how I want it to be. I think things are good right now. This is where my focus is,'' Peek said. ``I want to stay competitive this season and have fun.''

AT A GLANCE

Name: Julia Peek

School: Valencia High

Sport: Tennis

Year: Junior

Notable: The third-year player competes at the team's No. 1 singles spot with an overall record of 29-9. Defeated Burroughs' previously unbeaten Dragana Ognenovska 6-1. The honor student is also involved in student body government and academic clubs on campus. She also has never been swept in a match.

Quotable: ``A lot of girls look to her wherever she is. She's a good building ground for our team.'' - Jeff Hollen, Valencia tennis coach

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: Valencia's Julia Peek returns during a match against Burbank.``My head is more together,'' said the junior, comparing this year to previous ones. ``I'm a lot more concentrated and I try not let things get to me.''

John Lazar/Daily News

Box: AT A GLANCE (see text)