Artists’ Youth Movement : Freshman Bray Leads Laguna Beach’s Young Tennis Team

Her youthful looks can trick opponents into a false sense of security, but they soon realize that Michelle Bray is anything but an easy mark on the tennis court.

If anything, they are the likely victims.

“It would be a big mistake for an opponent to underestimate her,” said Bob Walton, girls’ tennis coach at Laguna Beach High.

Bray, the school’s No. 1 singles player, is one of four talented freshmen who make the Artists overwhelming favorites for a Southern Section championship.

The Artists (21-1) ran away with the Pacific Coast League title and head into the third round of the section Division II playoffs Tuesday against Calabasas (13-5) as the top-seeded team.

Credit for a lot of that success belongs to Bray, a 14-year-old left-hander and a veteran of junior tournaments. Her singles record this season is 53-4, including a three-set sweep in a 16-2 victory over Foothill Saturday in the second round. She’s also 3-0 in doubles.

Her consistent play has helped Laguna Beach to a near-perfect season--the team’s only loss was to South Coast League powerhouse Dana Hills, 11-7, in a nonleague match in September--but her biggest individual accomplishment came two weeks ago, when she won the Pacific Coast League singles title.

Bray, seeded second, beat top-seeded Lisabeth Yim of Laguna Hills, 6-1, 6-4, in the finals to qualify for the section individual tournament Nov. 21. They had split their two league sets, and Bray didn’t know what to expect going into the match, but she quickly gained control and pulled off the victory.

“I thought I could do it but I wasn’t really sure,” Bray said. “I feel I played really well because I was very focused. You have to be focused to beat her (Yim).”

Others might say you need the same approach to get past Bray on the court. Not overpowering in any facet of the game, Bray prefers to exchange shots with her opponents and look for an opening. When she gets it, she typically executes with precision.

“I mostly wait for the other person to make the mistakes,” said Bray, who picked up tennis seriously about six years ago. “I also try to mix up my shots because then they (opponents) can’t get into a groove.”

Walton says those tactics, and her usual coolness, help to make Bray a winner.

“That’s her main strength,” said Walton, now in his sixth season coaching the girls’ team and going into his 11th with the boys. “She’s very, very steady. She will not beat herself. I’m really impressed with her maturity level on the court.”

Bray, however, wasn’t confident before her first high school match two months ago against Capistrano Valley. Still, she overcame the jitters, won her three sets and got her prep tennis career off and running.

“I was so nervous,” Bray said. “The nerves went away after I was a few points into my first (set).”

Bray believes her left-handed shots give her an advantage.

“Many times players forget that I’m left-handed and they think they are hitting to my backhand, but they are actually hitting to my forehand,” said Bray, who’s ranked 26th in Southern California in the 14-and-under division. “They get all surprised when they see the ball coming back a lot faster than they thought it would be.”

Bray, who until this year had never played on a team, says she enjoys the newfound camaraderie and challenges. She is a close friend of teammate Amanda Hastings-Phillips--another standout freshman, who plays No. 2 singles for the Artists--and gets along well with the other players. The two other freshmen, Lindsay Wiess and Sarah Cohen, play No. 3 singles and doubles, respectively.

“I like it,” Bray said. “When you’re on a team, everyone is supporting everybody else. As an individual, you are trying to compete against everyone around you.”

Bray also feels fortunate to have the affable Walton for a coach, even when he targets her for some well-intentioned ribbing.

“When I ask him a question, sometimes he says, ‘Only a freshman would ask a question like that,’ ” Bray said.