GIRLS' TENNIS: WINNING - AND HAVING FUN VALENCIA'S HERRERA MAKES MOST OF HER TIME ON TENNIS COURT.Byline: Matthew Matthew one of the twelve disciples. [N.T.: Matthew] See : Evangelism Kredell Staff Writer Ashley For use as a person's name, see . Ashley may refer to: Places Australia
v. pon·dered, pon·der·ing, pon·ders v.tr. To weigh in the mind with thoroughness and care. v.intr. To reflect or consider with thoroughness and care. for years. ``What if I had quit softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' and just focused on tennis?'' Herrera wondered. ``How good could I actually be?'' Herrera gets in that mood when she loses, which rarely happens. Only Yepremian and Saugus' Yasaman Sakhakorn, both of whom play year-round tournament tennis and are nationally ranked, have beaten Herrera this year. Softball is Herrera's favorite sport, and during softball season, she might play tennis once a month with her dad. During tennis season, Herrera plays softball four times a week with her club team. ``Honestly, I like softball better and think that I am a better player at it,'' said Herrera, an all-league softball selection last year while leading Valencia to an undefeated season in league play. ``But tennis is really challenging and that's one reason I enjoy it so much.'' Herrera isn't a polished tennis player and can lack consistency because she doesn't play as regularly as most top players. ``Tennis is kind of a hobby A hobby is a spare-time recreational pursuit. Origin of term A hobby-horse was a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like the real hobby. From this came the expression "to ride one's hobby-horse", meaning "to follow a favourite pastime", and in turn, to her,'' Holen said. ``If she focused on tennis, she could be as good as Sakhakorn or Yepremian.'' Herrera relies on her athleticism, height (5-foot-7) and the power it gives her. That's enough to beat most players. Valencia relies on her to sweep her matches and allow a strong doubles team to pick up the win. When Herrera lost to Sakhakorn 6-4, she won her other two sets and Valencia beat Saugus 14-4. ``I thought she was a smart player,'' said Sakhakorn. ``She was really athletic and fast around the court.'' Herrera has given Sakhakorn her biggest test of the season. Sakhakorn, a freshman, is undefeated and hadn't given up more than two games before playing Herrera. ``Right now, I'm still contending to be one of the top players and just playing half a year,'' Herrera said. ``It can be disappointing (to lose), but I just realize that they play all year and tennis is their sport.'' Herrera will get one more shot at Yepremian and Sakhakorn, and it isn't wise to count her out. Earlier in the year, she had a visible knot knot In cording, the interlacement of parts of one or more ropes, cords, or other pliable materials, commonly used to bind objects together. Knots have existed from the time humans first used vines and cordlike fibers to bind stone heads to wood in primitive axes, and were in her back that forced her to forfeit To lose to another person or to the state some privilege, right, or property due to the commission of an error, an offense, or a crime, a breach of contract, or a neglect of duty; to subject property to confiscation; or to become liable for the payment of a penalty, as the result of a her final two sets to Lancaster. But in the set she did play, she beat defending Golden League champion Karen Zimmerman 6-2 despite only being able to use second serves because of the injury. ``Ashley's strength is her tenacity,'' Holen said. ``She is a player who never gives up and is fighting for every point. She has an athlete's mentality men·tal·i·ty n. The sum of a person's intellectual capabilities or endowment. that just won't quit.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Ashley Herrera of Valencia High is perhaps the best part-time tennis players in the area. Despite her success on the court, she says she prefers softball. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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