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Show Page B4 Thursday, October 16, 2003 Times Newspaper DETERMINATION ; V' ( ' i ; s 1 V a i t f " '" photo by Landon Olson7wie.v Newspaper Ashley Henry starts her toss as she prepares to serve during a home match this season. continued from Page Bl Even when things aren't going the Bruins way, Ashley seems to be a well of determination determina-tion the team can focus on to help rebound. Her word for it, though, is heart. "In our games, I'll be like, 'Have a little heart girls,'" Ashley says. "Just have the determination to get this point, get this side-out. side-out. In the end, if you are so focused on having hav-ing heart and determination, it will come." Which of course leads to the senior outside hitter being a leader for a lot of the younger girls on the team. She's been through the growing, grow-ing, going from JV freshman to varsity starter, and she knows what it takes to win matches. And Ashley knows she's a leader for a lot of the younger girls and even seems to embrace the role, her voice touched with what could be called pride or honor, at being an example to the team. "On the court I can tell a lot of the younger girls, especially the sophomores, will look at me after a play to reassure themselves, Am I OK? Am I still in this game?'" Ashley said. "I kind of carry the momentum because I am such a competitive person and am so determined deter-mined to win the game that a lot of the time I carry it and I help all the younger girls get up to the level I know we can play at." Wood said, "She has a desire to be the best she can be and help other people out. She strives to be the best she can and she works on pulling people with her, pulling people along so they can be the best they can be." Sometimes though, Ashley can get a little overzealous, and she's not afraid to admit it. There are times, she said, she's had to be calmed down a bit by her coach for being a lit-1 tie too competitive on the court, especially if her teammates don't realize that instead of being upset, she is just competitive. "The determination in me sometimes gets away from me and I've got to get back to earth and realize what's going on," Ashley says. Realizing what's going on has been something some-thing of a priority for Ashley in her last couple cou-ple of years as development as a player. She has worked on learning the strategy of the sport actually passing," she said. "If you can't pass a ball, you don't run an offense and so I just have really worked on my passing and serving serv-ing this year." Which, coupled with her determination and confidence, has caused college coaches to take note. Ashley has been recruited for both volleyball and basketball, although she said she's leaning toward play ing just volleyball OA j-i U, and understanding what's Willi volleyball, It was can nave time to focus on academics as well. Currently, she said her top school choices are Utah State, the University of going on around her. "The most improvement I probably saw is just in understanding of the strategy strat-egy of the game," Walker said. "That's where I feel like she's made her : improvement this year." And for Ashley, that's even been the fun part. She says knowing the fundamentals of the game blocking, hitting, passing and serving is important, but knowing what to do when enables those fundamental skills to be put to good use. 'You've got to read the people on the other side of the net," Ashley said. "What are they going to hit? Is your block closed? Or do you have to go in the middle of it? There's so many things non-physical that you have to know about the game and it's so much fun as soon as you get to know those off instinct just to read it." That's not to say she's been totally neglecting neglect-ing the physical aspects of the game. To become a more well-rounded player, Ashley has been working especially hard on her passing pass-ing and serving. "I know I can hit the ball pretty hard for a high school girl, and so what I've worked on is just so brand new and I was horrible at it." Ashley Henry Montana and Utah Valley Mountain View outside hitter State College, although she : has a few other options she's considering. But, wherever she chooses, the coaches she's had expect she'll do well. "I think she has that desire and that drive that all college coaches are looking for," Wood said. "And she's coachable. She's willing to learn and she's willing to listen and try and work on ways to improve herself." And as she improves, not only does she have fun just learning, but her determination is helping boost her team, and it's making her that much more attractive to college coaches, opening even more opportunities, for as the more she plays, the more she learns. "Now that I'm understanding the game it just makes me want to play it even more," Ashley said. With state playoffs, the club season and a college career all in her future, it's likely Ashley will have plenty of chances to play more. And, it's likely, she'll take her confidence confi-dence and determination to new heights. STATE TENNIS continued from Page Bl But while Mountain View has a lot of youth, Orem had four seniors anchoring its squad. The No. 1 doubles team of Mary Dyer and Diana Perry, No. 3 singles player Shannon Finch and No. 2 doubles player Taylor Brady will all be graduating, but despite playing in their final matches, they didn't lack any effort or heart on the court. In the No. 1 doubles match, Perry and Dyer dropped the first set 6-1 to West's Tess Reiter and Chelsea Davis, but they battle back to take the second sec-ond set 6-2. After falling behind 5-2 in the third, the Orem duo tied things at 5-5, 5-5, but eventually fell 7-5. No. 2 singles was another tough loss, as Ashlee Gardner led 5-1 in the first but dropped the match 7-5, 6-1 to Murray's Hanna Jensen. "Definitely first doubles and second singles were the toughest losses," coach Lynsi Gardner said. "First doubles, they were right in there, they had it. Ashlee had it 5-1 and then to have the whole set taken away from her. Those were kind of tough ones, but I'm proud - V V tf vry 1 , J , I ti I ! '': ' ' ! 1 ' i - ' ,f t f ' , y t . .! i ' $ , I ' " - i '1 J ' I t f V t ? t- N. , t i. .V ' ft photos by Landon Olsonrmes Newspaper Orem's Taylor Brady hits a shot from her baseline during her second round No. 2 doubles match at state. Home A Loan Call Today! 756-2990 INTERMOUNTAIN MORTGAGE COMPANY of the way they played." While there was some disappointment in the second sec-ond round losses, especially in the close matches, most players seemed happy with their performance, but more importantly, appeared to be having fun. Between her first and second round matches, Holdaway had plenty of enthusiasm, saying say-ing how much fun she was having just being at state. And the senior's freshman partner, Staci Spencer, said she was having fun, especially espe-cially making it to the second sec-ond round. "That was real exciting for everyone," she said. "I think it's a good experience for me. A really good experience." On the Orem side, Finch was laughing about diving for a ball and colliding with the fence during her first round match, and remained positive about the experience experi-ence of just being at state. For someone who has only been playing a couple of years and plays tennis mainly as just a chance to have fun and not be bored in the fall, Finch said she wasn't even thinking about state when the season started. "I mostly was just playing play-ing it one point, one game at a time. I really wouldn't even think that far ahead. I'm happy with where I got," she said. "This is better bet-ter than I've ever done before. No regrets. I've had a lot of fun. Especially with my team. They're awesome." awe-some." And not having any regrets is a great way to finish a successful season for both of the teams. - i m m ' ' i i mm . . . ...... . -r. j .. ,- m m-y: , . . .. . I , - j,; . i " 'i y ' , i! r ' i ' ' r . CT) t mwM&g?m x v ismLmfiimmi'mim wit rtittwiww " v ., v - Staci Spencer, a freshman for Mountain View, jumps to return a long shot along the baseline base-line during her second round match in the state tournament. Spencer is one of five returning varsity players for the Bruins, with all five making it to the second round of the tournament and tying for fifth place. State tournament results First Round No.1 Singles Bridgette Strickland (Mountain View) def. Elisabeth Ellis (Mountain Crest), 6-1, 6-0 Kaitlyn Craig (Orem) def. Ashley Anderson (Logan), 6-1,6-2 No. 2 Singles Brooke Tenney (Mountain View) def. Natalie Rounds (Mountain Crest), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 Ashlee Gardner (Orem) def. Crystal Richins (Box Elder), 6-1, 6-3 No. 3 Singles Kim Bushnell (Mountain View) def. Allison Bingham (Mountain Crest) 6-4, 6-0 Shannon Finch (Orem) def. Kensie Chadwick (Bonneville) 6-0, 6-0 No. 1 Doubles Brooke HoldawayStaci Spencer (Mountain View) def. Amanda WebsterBrittney Brent (Roy), 6-2, 6-1 Mary DyerDiana Perry (Orem) def. Amanda RichardsLiesel Dilg (Box Elder), 6-1, 6-2 No. 2 Doubles Jessica NielsonDani Whittaker (Mountain View) def. Kate FoustEmiri Daines (Mountain Crest), 6-1,6-2 Taylor BradyNicole Clark (Orem) def. Chandra MartzAshley Gray (Box Elder), 6-2, 6-2 Second Round No.1 Singles Jessi Liechty (Provo) def. Bridgette Strickland (Mountain View), 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 Dee Dee Nelson (Bountiful) def. Kaitlyn Craig (Orem), 6-3, 6-1 No. 2 Singles McCaye Badger (East) def. Brooke Tenney (Mountain View), 6-2, 6-2 Hanna Jensen (Murray) def. Ashlee Gardner (Orem), 7-5, 6-1 No. 3 Singles Yolanda Gonzales (Provo) def. Kim Bushnell (Mountain View), 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 Lauren Marsh (Bountiful) def. Shannon Finch (Orem), 6-4, 7-5 No. 1 Doubles Ali KolgoreMindy Smith (Bountiful) def. Brooke HoldawayStaci Spence (Mountain View)r, 6-0, 6-1 Tess ReiterChelsea Davis (West) def. Mary DyerDiana Perry (Orem), 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 No. 2 Doubles Lindsay BurtonLindsay Lake (Bountiful) def. Jessica NielsonDani Whittaker (Mountain ' View), 6-0, 6-4 Keisha CattenMarcie Rasband (Murray) def. Taylor BradyNicole Clark (Orem), 6-0, 7-5 Bruin Jessica Nielson gets ready to serve at the state tournament last Friday. too uifedeee 9 ""Hishd Competitive Rates Great Service Se Habla Espanol Call for a Quote Today, You'll be GladYou Did. Lender Insurance, Inc. Professional Plaza 382 W Center St. 2"lft" Orem ill e 1 , -VP & v AW hVe have an Extensive Credit Program. vve can Help with a New or Used car and Reestablish your credit. No Hassle 24 hr. Credit Line. (801)492-1870 Or For One-on One Help Call Jake at 492-0100 nun A MlYiU ATTrPLEX coT,, . " fwi'y Owned & Operated 523 W. Main, American Fork, Utah Exit 281 801-492-1110 |