TENNIS NOTEBOOK: SHE'S READY TO IMPROVE.

Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News

With each passing set, Quartz Hill girls' tennis player Ashley Litchfield continues to distance herself from the rest of the field in the Golden League.

Litchfield, the defending league singles champion, has made her run toward a second consecutive title seem too easy during the first round of play, which concluded with Tuesday's match against visiting Littlerock.

But the sophomore knows the league tournament and postseason are right around the corner, which will force her to elevate her game in preparation for what she hopes is another successful November.

``The season goes by really fast,'' said the 15-year-old, who, in addition to winning the singles titles at Valencia's Fall Brawl and the Palmdale Invitational, is undefeated in league play.

``Last year, when I was going into (the Southern Section individual tournament), I was playing really well, I just ran into a really good player in Hilary Barte (from Harvard-Westlake of Studio City).

``But this year, I'm going to try to get ready a little earlier.''

Because of a lack of competition in league, Litchfield hopes she can get some extra work playing in junior tournaments on the weekends during the remainder of October.

``I always try to give 100 percent, but some of the (sets) are easier than others,'' Litchfield said.

``I'm not as match-tough as I'd like to be, but it's something I can go back and fix pretty quick. I'm really competitive, so my goal (for the rest of the regular season) is just to stay focused and get ready for the postseason.''

Litchfield shouldn't have any problem doing so, especially with the rematch against Highland on Oct. 26.

--Big week: The stakes don't get much higher than they do this week for Littlerock.

The Lobos, who finished third in the Golden League last year, played at 16-time league champion Quartz Hill on Tuesday and will host Highland on Thursday. The Bulldogs won the first meeting between the teams 12-6 on Sept. 21.

But ask junior Mary Willadsen and she thinks knocking off Highland isn't an impossible feat.

``They're not that much better than us, but everyone gets all uptight because it's Highland or it's Quartz Hill,'' said Willadsen, who has teamed with senior Damaris Sanchez to post a 15-0 record in doubles in the team's five matches.

``It's going to be hard, but it could happen.''

Willadsen and Sanchez will also try to continue to solidify their status as the league's top doubles team entering the Nov. 8-9 tournament at Palmdale High.

--Scary moment: During Littlerock's 15-3 victory over Lancaster on Oct. 5, the Eagles' No. 1 player, Brina Joffe, suffered a right-knee injury during a match with the Lobos' Tiffany Creel, forcing her to default with the set tied 3-3.

``We hope she is healthy the next time we face them,'' Littlerock coach John Konrad said.