Learning as they go

On a sunny, warm afternoon recently a group of four girls sit out at Culpeper County High School, catching some rays.

Nothing unusual about that picture, and even less unusual that they were sitting there with all their tennis gear, waiting patiently for their turn at the court.

An hour passes, two hours, three hours. By the time girls hit the court, it's past dinnertime and the warmth they were basking in earlier has been chilled by a blustery wind.

But they seem happy just to be hitting the ball around. So is the life as an exhibition player on Culpeper County High School's girls tennis team.

"Unfortunately in tennis we have the tendency to treat exhibition like step-children," CCHS head coach Peggy Allen said jokingly. "You try to include them and you try to get them involved. But unfortunately a lot of your attention goes to your top six."

And on this day, it was no different. Playing Fauquier Wednesday, the varsity top six took longer than expected, forcing the exhibition girls into a lengthy wait for their turn.

But the exhibition players didn't seem to mind. They sat, chatted, ate and bonded. Basically, they were a team in waiting.

"It's been great because I did horseback riding before this and I never had the team experience," sophomore Kristine Blanc said. "We've gotten to be a team already."

The team members, consisting of sophomores Blanc, Taylor Queen, Elizabeth Crane, Bridget Lorentzen and juniors Ana Green and Elaine Sims, are relatively new to the sport. Only Green had played last year, and other than her only Sims had much formal training before joining the tennis squad.

Many of the girls simply followed Allen over from field hockey in the fall, using tennis almost as a spring conditioning program.

"I told Miss Allen I was thinking of doing girls lacrosse and she said 'no, you need to come out here and play tennis with me," Lorentzen said.

And when they get to play, it's a learning experience for the young Devilettes. They have to adjust to a different style of play.

"It's a lot different from field hockey," Lorentzen said. "In field hockey you have to be aggressive and here you have to be calm. When you want to hit the ball hard you can't."

But they've gained valuable experience from exhibition play, learning as they go.

"I had taken a couple of lessons before coming out here, but I've learned a lot more from being on the team," Crane said.

Although they have learned the theory of what they're supposed to be doing, the team is still struggling to translate theory to practice on the court.

"I know what you're supposed to do, but doing it is a whole different story," Blanc said with a laugh. "I try the best I can, but it doesn't always work out the way I had it planned."

Green is the grizzled veteran of the bunch, having played tennis last year. And she's the most polished. But she doesn't talk strategy with the youngsters, allowing them to learn from the coach.

"I mostly leave that up to coach Allen because she does a pretty good job of helping us out with that," Green said. "What I've learned from being in exhibition is how to handle a match.

It's really important to go in with a positive attitude. I feel like I've improved a lot with my skills and the shots I'm able to make."

Sims, who has played tennis throughout her life with her dad, sees exhibition as simply a chance to play and learn.

"It's basically there for experience," Sims said. "In lessons you can hit as many great hard shots as you want, but playing the games gives you a feel for everything."

And playing time is what the girls crave. While Allen is mostly focusing on her top six, she makes sure the exhibition players get their share of practicing time as well.

"Sometimes it's a matter of JV picking up by practicing," Allen said. "About once a week or so they'll come over here and play doubles. I've seen improvement all the way around. If they stick with it, they have a good basis now. Hopefully they'll go out and play this summer and get some individual help."

Jeff Say can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 115 or at .