Sabina Okanovic Takes Over No. 1 Singles Spot for Panthers

Mehlville girls tennis coach Bill Ebert is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead for Sabina Okanovic this fall.

The sophomore takes over the No. 1 singles spot for a Panther team which finished 4-10 in 2010. Ebert, who is entering his 16th year as girls head coach, knows that it will be a learning year for Okanovic, who played No. 2 singles last year.

"I know she's going to take her lumps this year," Ebert said. "But it'll pay off in the next couple of years."

No. 1 players get stiff competition match in and match out but Ebert feels that Okanovic is best suited for the challenge.

"Her strengths are that she knows the game, probably more so than all of the girls on the team," Ebert said. "She has a nice baseline game and her forehand is her major strength. She doesn't give up on anything, too. Her attitude and character, she just keeps playing until it's finally over or a shot is out.

"We're trying to get her now to play a little more, coming into the net. But that's hard for these young kids. They don't want to make mistakes. She's got to learn and she'll get it eventually. Hopefully then by her senior year, this will all pay off."

Ebert is excited about the turnout for the team this year. A total of 33 girls came out, which is about a dozen more than usual. Many of them are first-year tennis players.

Senior Hue Lam will start the season at No. 2 singles. She played primarily at No. 3 and 4 singles last year.

Junior Monica Wanninger, who played in the doubles lineup last fall, makes the big jump to No. 3 singles.

Junior Sunya Subramanian, who played as a freshman but not last year, helps the depth and will open at No. 4 singles.

The team's No. 1 doubles team, seniors Haylee Thibodeaux and Abby Presson, also return. They could also fit into the Panther singles lineup.

"I think the team is starting to come together," Ebert said. "Everybody's had a good attitude even with the heat and stuff that we've had.

"A .500 record is one of our goals. We would also like to win our conference tournament. We're also looking forward to districts as well. Our competition there is going to be pretty much even talent-wise, so we can possibly do some things in districts."

Oakville, Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau Central and Jackson are the other teams in Mehlville's district.