Leary makes rapid rise to the top
Sports Editor
Monday, December 24, 2007
It is not unusual to see an Edenton player named The Daily Advance Girls' Tennis Player of the Year. But if asked at the end of the 2006 season who might win the award for 2007, the Lady Aces' Elizabeth Leary was probably not at the top of the list.
 File photo by Justin Falls |
| Elizabeth Leary |
"For most of the year, she was not in the top six last year," Edenton coach Allen Hornthal said. "She was, for all intents and purposes, our No. 7 player.
"It wasn't like she was off the radar last year, because she wasn't, but she was way down the line."
But it didn't take Leary long to climb up the ladder. By the time school began in the fall, she had risen not just to the starting lineup, but all the way to the No. 1 singles spot.
Hornthal attributed the rise to Leary's work ethic.
"Her and Caroline (Small) last spring were managers for the guys' team," he said. "So they got to hit with the guys, and that helps, too. There are people in Greenville who have helped a lot, and she hits with her dad a lot, too. She's just a hard worker, a good kid."
He was not surprised to see an improvement in her game, but was by how rapid it came about.
"It's the biggest jump I've ever had a player make," he said.
Leary is just a sophomore, and the rest of the top five Lady Aces are returning next year as well, which should make for an even better season in 2008.
"I can't imagine that in the offseason she'd make that big of a jump again, but you never know," Hornthal said. "But she's a special player, and we're glad to have her."
Alex Brusko
Edenton
Sophomore
18-2 singles record
Jessica Meidinger
Currituck
Junior
14-6 at No. 1 singles
Jessica Alvarez
Northeastern
Senior
Lady Eagles' No. 1 player
Katherine Elliott
Edenton
Junior
Regional doubles finalist (w/Brusko)
Isabelle Boehling
Edenton
Sophomore
16-4 record at No. 5 singles
Jenna Wood
Northeastern
Junior
Played No. 2 singles for NHS
Phoenicia Moore
Pasquotank
Junior
Made regionals in doubles
Hannah Gilroy
Pasquotank
Junior
No. 1 singles; made regionals
