SINGLE MINDED HART'S DAVIDSON SUCCEEDS IN MOVING UP FROM DOUBLES.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

NEWHALL - As Amy Davidson of the Hart High girls' tennis team stood on the baseline and let her racket drop from her hands to the court Tuesday afternoon, you knew she was frustrated by her inability to put the ball where she wanted.

Davidson lost the set to La Canada's best singles player, Ciri Bryan, 7-5.

But the outcome also showed how far Davidson's tennis has come. The junior has earned herself a spot in the Indians' tight singles lineup this fall after making a serious commitment to tennis in the summer.

``She played doubles for us for two years, '' Hart coach Steve Love said. ``But after she dedicated herself to playing singles, she's really made a bang. She played great at Westlake.''

Hart surprised Westlake with a victory two weeks ago. The Indians lost another tough nonleague match a week later 10-8 to Ventura, but Davidson took two of three sets at No. 2 singles.

``I definitely wasn't disappointed in our play,'' Davidson said. ``Coach said before the match that they were really good and he was proud that we battled.''

Davidson could have taken it easy in the summer and had success in the fall. As half of a doubles tandem, there was a good chance Davidson's team could have made the Southern Section finals in doubles. Instead, she worked out every day at a camp at Hart and with her dad, who is the girls' and boys' tennis coach at Glendale. She wanted to see how she'd measure up against the area's best instead of hanging around the doubles scene.

After evaluating her play at the end of last season, Davidson knew she could challenge herself more.

``We were doing well (in doubles), and we were having a good time,'' she said. ``But I felt like it was my time to break through.''

Davidson's decision to try to crack the top three in singles was especially bold, because there wasn't room for her to do so. The girls who played singles last year were returning players. But, with Love's support, Davidson decided to go for it.

And there are no lingering animosities - Davidson has experienced only encouragement from teammates this fall.

``Our captains, Jessica (Taylor) and Natasha (Kaul), didn't make it, but they had really good attitudes,'' Davidson said. ``Natasha was great about it, and I know I can just go play my game without being concerned about losing or making them mad.''

Instead of playing singles, Kaul and Taylor have formed a solid doubles team for the Indians.

Davidson has two older brothers who are Hart tennis alums and one, Adam, went on to play for Azusa Pacific. Adam was a motivating factor in Amy's decision to improve over the summer.

``Since he went to college his game has improved so much,'' Davidson said. ``He helps me with the mental aspect of the game. He helps calm me down.''

Davidson would have liked to have her brother close Thursday, when Hart played Glendale, the team her dad coaches. Last year the Indians fell 10-8 to Glendale.

``Dad's already started trash talking,'' she said at the beginning of the week.

Davidson's mom, Joan, said she was going to root for her daughter, even though she's a Glendale alum, and even though her husband really wants to win.

``It's always exciting to have a father-daughter match,'' Love said.

But in the end, Thursday's outcome will have little bearing on a lesson already learned about the rewards gained by dedication and persistence.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Hart High girls' tennis player Amy Davidson used to be a doubles star but now is one of the Indians' top three singles players after offseason training.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer