Talent, unity put Liberty tennis team high in rankings

Freshman Katie Lee has been dominant as Liberty High's No. 1 singles player. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Liberty High girls tennis team is headed into the last leg of the regular season ranked first in their division with just seven matches left on the schedule.

Their 11-2 record at this point in the year stands in contrast with their final 6-8 record last season -- numbers indicative of a Cinderella story that Liberty High School is all too familiar with.

Head coach Tyler Baca started the tennis program three years ago at the opening of the school and welcomed all freshmen onto his team. And look how far they have come.

“Our very first practice, hardly any of them knew how to hit the ball,” Baca said of his first season with the Bison. “I was like, ‘How am I going to do this?’”

But he figured out how to do that, taking a group of inexperienced freshmen into their junior year with a victory over rival Heritage to start the season back in August. That same group finished a match against West Valley Thursday with a 17-1 win, led by juniors Kia Martinez and Vanessa Malki on doubles and freshman Katie Lee in the No. 1 spot in singles.

The No. 2 spot in doubles is filled by juniors Mia Gray and Alexiya Bozanic, who, until last Tuesday, were on a four-game win streak. Gray and Bozanic were a key part of the fairy tale plot for this team, coming in as freshmen, unsure of whether singles or doubles were right for them. But this year they partnered together and have found their groove.

For a lot of the teammates, however, the power in winning isn’t even the best part of it all. Lee said the people on the team are her favorite part.

“They’re so fun to hang out with and so nice,” Lee said. “Everyone is really friendly and funny.”

Martinez agreed.

“I feel like this is a really good community of girls to be around,” said Martinez.

Her partner, Malki, who started with her last year in the No. 3 spot, said their success as a partnership comes from outside of tennis.

“We both play other sports, as well, and we really are like best friends outside of tennis,” said Malki. “We have good chemistry because of that.”

Baca said it’s surreal to see that the team is successful on the court and close-knit as teammates because it’s something he told them could happen if they put in the work.

“I told them it could go like that if they put in the work, because I’ve been through it,” said Baca, recounting his two CIF championships when he played for Heritage High. “I’m just so grateful that they are actually putting in the work. It requires listening and effort and a lot of training outside of practice and they did it, and now the rewards are coming in.”

Baca’s perspective from his own tennis background offers the team a unique opportunity to focus on how the sport can work for them. For example, Martinez noted that other teams they play against will often do high-intensity sprints or conditioning before matches, but Baca’s philosophy is different.

“He said that’s not something he ever had to do so he doesn’t see a reason to make us do it,” said Martinez.

Baca said his coaching style is a reflection of his high school coach, Doug Fairchild, who is now retired.

“I always tell [Doug] that he’s not really retired because his work is evident in what I do here with this team,” Baca said. “He made me who I am; without him, I would be nothing.”

Baca, too, was ranked No. 1 in his division for his senior year and went on to win that championship, so he foresees great things for his team.

“We’re going to do our best and wherever it goes, it goes,” said Baca. “There’s some good teams in league and we’re going to show up and play our best tennis.”

Some of those good matchups are against Tahquitz and Citrus Hill, both coming up in the next two weeks. Pressure is on for the whole team, but specifically for Lee, who is yet to lose a match this year.

As a freshman who just joined the team, Lee was a pleasant surprise who obviously deserved the one spot, said Baca.

Her teammates are benefiting from her talent, too.

“She’s honestly our inspiration,” said Malki and Martinez. “I think we’re most proud of her, to be honest. To do that good as a freshman, it’s honestly inspiring.”

Lee and the rest of the team will look to defend their ranking and record in their next match against Citrus Hill Tuesday afternoon.

“We’ll see what happens in CIF and the rest of the season,” said Baca. “But I’m just so proud of them and my favorite part is that I’ve been able to watch them grow up. They make me so proud.”

Kia Martinez has found her niche on the No. 1 doubles team for Liberty. (Photo by Rick Rowell)

 The other half of the No. 1 doubles team, Vanessa Malki, is also a steadying influence. (Photo by Rick Rowell)