GIRLS TENNIS: RICHARDSON HAPPY WITH NEW RACKET : TENNIS IS GROWING ON BASKETBALL STAR.

Byline: Anel Laj Staff Writer

Basketball is Lannette Richardson's first love, but another sport vies for her affections in the fall: tennis.

Last year, as a forward on the Quartz Hill basketball team, Richardson averaged 16.8 points and 9.5 rebounds and made the All-Golden League team. This is where she's most comfortable and confident.

However, tennis has begun to grow on her, in good part because of her teammates.

``The first impression people get of me is that I'm quiet . . . shy,'' said Richardson, ``. . . but people have to get to know me. The tennis team is the team that knows me best.''

Richardson says those long rides into the San Fernando Valley for road matches give the team an opportunity to bond.

Richardson said she was intimidated when she tried out for the Quartz Hill tennis team because the Rebels haven't lost a Golden League match the past 10 years.

``I was skeptical about playing tennis at first because I had never picked up a racket until I got (to Quartz Hill),'' said Richardson of her freshman year. ``I was surprised I made the team.''

Now, as a senior and the No. 2 singles player, Richardson wants to help Quartz Hill earn it's 11th consecutive title.

Last year, Richardson did her part, ending league play without a loss. This year, Richardson is 27-3 (as of last Tuesday) and her only losses were to outstanding players: Simi Valley's Rebecca Hunua, Royal's Annie Tran and Valencia's Julia Peek, the last of whom she beat the following week in the Palmdale tournament to take third place.

``One thing she adds is being a good example,'' said Quartz Hill coach Bill Lenaway. ``She serves as a positive example of how to play because her form and skill are so good. She's a very good athlete and covers the court well.''

Richardson's life doesn't revolve solely around sports.

She does volunteer work, once a week helping to feed the homeless at the Grace Resource Center and in the summer helping kids in a reading program. She also helps her father coach 12-14-year-olds in a youth basketball league.

Still, she finds time to maintain a 3.5 grade point average. In addition to her advanced-placement economics, Spanish and civics courses at Quartz Hill, Richardson earned 30 units of college credit while attending Antelope Valley College in the summer. She plans to send applications to Stanford, Cal, Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine, just to name a few.

If Richardson had to choose between tennis and basketball at the collegiate level, she says she'd choose the latter.

However, her career goal is to work in international business as a Spanish and sign-language translator. Her mother, originally from Panama, speaks fluent Spanish.

``I'd like learning about different cultures, and if I get to travel, that's even better'' said Richardson. ``It's good seeing differences between the U.S. and other countries.''

AT A GLANCE

Name: Lannette Richardson

School: Quartz Hill High

Sport: Tennis

Year: Senior

Position: No. 2 singles

Notable: Two-sport athlete who dominates in basketball as a forward. Was an All-Golden League Selection. . . In 1998 went undefeated as the No. 3 singles player.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, box

PHOTO Lannette Richardson's first priority is basketball but she has learned to enjoy tennis.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News

Box: At a Glance (see text)