GIRLS’ TENNIS PREVIEW : White’s Dominance Surfaces Quickly : Top Player Belongs to Camarillo but Westlake Emerges as Marmonte Favorite

Most of Molly White’s opponents scarcely have time to kick a few tennis balls, pluck at their racket strings in frustration and berate themselves under their breath before losing. One-set matches against the Camarillo High sophomore usually last all of 10 minutes.

Oh, when her concentration wanes now and again, White might lose a game. “Either I fool around too much or try too hard,” she said. “I get back into it after a couple of games.” Just about that time, opponents make their exit.

Many local coaches have dubbed the 15-year-old, who has the girth of a ballerina and grip of a lumberjack, one of the top players in the Valley area. She is ranked 10th in the Southern California Tennis Assn. 16-and-under division and has played in several national tournaments.

“Unless (a player transfers) into the Marmonte League, I think she’ll dominate,” Camarillo Coach Chuck Riley said. “The rest of the matches are getting under way and she’s walking off the court.”

That scenario does not necessarily bode ill for other programs, however, considering team depth is far more valuable than individual dominance.

Take it from Westlake Coach Connie Flanderka, whose team might not boast a player of White’s caliber but is solid throughout and is ranked 10th in the Southern Section 3-A Division. Although Camarillo is one of the better teams in the Valley area, it will probably be edged out for the league title by Westlake. “The superstars are nice,” Flanderka said. “It’s great to have the Molly Whites, but you need eight other players, too.”

Unlike some coaches who scramble to recruit capable players, Flanderka had to cut 16 girls to get down to a 22-player roster. “I had kids I cut that in other years I would have kept,” she said. “I’ve had some that have really moved up.”

As has White. Two years ago, she was 5 feet, 80 pounds. She has since grown four inches, added 17 pounds and improved dramatically, according to her personal coach, Kathy Bryan.

“She was really slight before and now she’s getting a lot of extra power behind her shots,” Bryan said. “Before, she was playing girls that were far more substantial in size, and her growth is really helping her.”

Bryan, who has coached White for five years, said that White’s crunching ground strokes are complemented by her composure under pressure.

“She never gets down on herself and has a real fighting spirit,” Bryan said. “We’ve never had to spend any time trying to get her ready for matches. With Molly, you can’t tell whether she’s winning or losing from her body language.”

Chances are, she’s winning.

A look at top area teams:

Agoura: The Chargers have won three consecutive Frontier League titles, advanced to the Southern Section quarterfinals last year and to the semifinals the two previous seasons. They are ranked fourth in the 3-A Division after a 16-2 season. Senior Trisha Silverman, ranked No. 9 in the SCTA 18-and-under division, is Agoura’s top singles player. Jennifer Frizzelle, Natalie Curtis and Bryn Malnenkoff also return. Kathy Fitzpatrick and Jackie Yang will play No. 1 doubles.

Calabasas: The Coyotes, ranked third in the Southern Section 3-A, possess perhaps the top singles triumvirate in the Valley: junior Natasha Pospich, the defending Frontier League champion, freshman Stacie Jellen and junior Allison Paris, who played No. 2 last year. Last week, Calabasas defeated a strong Santa Barbara team, 10-8, and won eight of nine singles sets. Samantha Meo, who could not play last week because of a strained shoulder, and freshman Tracy Paris, Allison’s sister, form the top doubles team. Last season, Calabasas was runner-up to Agoura in league play but advanced to the Southern Section quarterfinals before losing to San Marino, the eventual champion.

La Reina: The Regents have qualified for the playoffs seven years in a row and another postseason berth is likely. Top singles players include Katie Glynn, Carrie Johnson, and Mari Jonassen. The No. 2 doubles team of Sue Neurgaonkar and Keri Sweeney recently defeated all three Thousand Oaks teams.

Thousand Oaks: Although Thousand Oaks is not experience-rich, it does have an abundance of singles talent. Sherry Beyster, a senior transfer from Hawaii, recently beat La Reina’s Glynn, 6-3, and will be the No. 1 player on the team. Sophomore Michelle Palmisano, who might be the Lancers’ best athlete, is No. 2 and freshman Tricia Shinden is No. 3.

Kennedy: Unlike many City Section programs that were decimated by graduation, the Golden Cougars boast nine returnees from a team that was seeded fourth in the City last season. Jodi Gutstein, Kennedy’s No. 1 singles player, quit the team after losing interest in the sport, according to Coach Diana Laborde. Christy Jewell and her cousin, Carla Jewell, should help pick up the slack at the Nos. 1 and 2 positions. “We’re sitting pretty nice,” Laborde said.

Louisville: Eight players return from last year’s 14-8 team, including juniors Shellee Gautreau and Maureen Siffermann, who play first and second singles, and seniors Gina Tantardino and Heidi Detamore, the top doubles team.