GIRLS' TENNIS: BATTLING FOR FAMILY PRIDE DAD WILL OPPOSE DAUGHTER IN CAMPBELL HALL/CHAMINADE TENNIS MATCH.

Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News

Katarina Reveche is used to playing in big matches.

The Campbell Hall High of North Hollywood senior is also comfortable with her father, Marlon, being at the tennis courts watching those contests.

She's just not familiar with seeing him there with another team.

The Wake Forest-bound Reveche will compete in two of the most important matches of the Vikings' season this week. One is for area bragging rights, the other is about family pride.

After years of teaching Katarina, 17, and his eldest daughter, 20-year-old Cheyenne, Marlon Reveche decided in August to add another group of girls to his coaching resume -- the varsity tennis team at Chaminade of West Hills.

Although top-ranked Campbell Hall takes on No. 2 Calabasas today at Valley College, both father and daughter can't wait for Thursday's nonleague showdown between the Vikings and No. 9 Chaminade.

``I will always feel loyalty for Campbell Hall,'' Marlon Reveche said. ``But my eyes are on Chaminade now. We want to win this match on Thursday.''

With the assistance of Marlon's offseason training and the guidance of veteran coach Steve Kuechel, Campbell Hall has developed into one of the elite programs in Southern California, posting a 57-6 record during Katarina's four seasons.

``It's going to be hard for me too,'' Kuechel said. ``I've known Marlon for a long time and I consider him a good friend. He's done a lot for this program.''

After spending the summer instructing Campbell Hall players Jenny Cherry, Rebecca Lawson, Hannah Moss and Alison Wagner, Marlon decided to accept the vacant position at Chaminade.

``Steve had told us last year that we were going to play (Chaminade), so when I learned he was coaching there, my first thought was `that's going to be interesting,''' said Katarina, who helped the Vikings record an 85-76 victory on games last season against Chaminade after the teams played to a 9-9 tie.

``We beat them last year, so if we lose, then he's going to think it's all about him.''

For all his years of training Katarina and Cheyenne -- a junior on Utah's women's tennis team -- Marlon had never coached at the high school level before replacing Perry Saliano at Chaminade.

``At the beginning, it was hard. I really didn't know what I was getting myself into,'' Marlon said. ``But I'm learning through and through.''

While Marlon is trying to fine-tune the Eagles' lineup, he and his wife, Mila, are also learning to cope with the reality that their youngest daughter is heading to Winston Salem, N.C., next fall to play college tennis for the Demon Deacons.

``Like it was with Cheyenne, it's not going to hit me until I leave the parking lot in Winston Salem and get back on the plane to fly back to LAX,'' Marlon said. ``I'm getting emotional about it already. And it's only going to get harder as the (year) progresses.''

For Katarina, who started playing tennis at age 8 and began competing in USTA junior tournaments two years later, she wants to share as many memories with her father before moving on to the next chapter in her life.

``It's definitely been an experience, but I'm ready to move on,'' Katarina said. ``But I do feel like, thanks to him, I've been properly prepared. I know I'm ready to go out on my own.

``There's been a lot of ups and downs. But when I told him about Wake Forest, he started tearing up a little bit and he gave me a hug. I definitely felt the emotion.''

Although they will be on opposite sides of the net Thursday, the whole Reveche family wants to share in the emotion of Campbell Hall winning another Southern Section title, something the sisters accomplished together in 2003, and Katarina achieved again her sophomore year.

``As parents, we're very happy with everything,'' Marlon said. ``The kids are truly happy and that's the most important thing.''

Said Mila: ``She's going to finish high school at one of the most prestigious schools in the San Fernando Valley and she gets to go to college on a (tennis) scholarship. What else can I ask for?''

For Katarina, all she wants this week is two victories, even if one of them is at the expense of her father's won-loss record.

``I don't want to give him the satisfaction (of winning),'' she said. ``It's all about pride.''

Just ask the proud father how he feels.

``I'm getting choked up just thinking about it,'' Marlon said. ``It's going to be a little bit special.''

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Campbell Hall's Katarina Reveche's girls' tennis team will compete against Chaminade, coached by her father, Marlon, on Thursday.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer