ALL VALLEY REGION GIRLS’ TENNIS TEAM : PLAYER OF THE YEAR / ZUZANA STUNOVA : Winning Not Foreign to Czech

When Zuzana Stunova returns to her home in the Czech Republic for the holiday break, she probably will need an extra suitcase--to carry her many recently earned awards.

The Rio Mesa High junior, a foreign exchange student, won the Southern Section individual championship, the Channel League individual championship and was recognized as The Times’ athlete of the week and now The Times’ girls’ tennis player of the year, all within the span of a month.

“It’s nice to win,” Stunova said. “I practice hard every day. It’s a good feeling.”

She got used to it.

The hard-hitting Stunova had a 46-1 match record this season and won 53 of 55 sets.

Stunova is the first player from a Ventura County school to win the Southern Section individual tournament since it began in 1971.

The only blemish on Stunova’s record came in a one-set Channel League match against Pilar Montgomery of Santa Barbara that went to a tiebreaker.

Her only other set loss came in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section tournament.

Stunova, equally devastating with her ground strokes and serve, has power that can’t be matched by high school players in the region.

“She has the ability to pass opponents from both sides,” Rio Mesa Coach Steve Worthington said. “She has very powerful ground strokes.”

Power is not Stunova’s only asset.

She is extremely accurate and often forces opponents to run into corners, keeping them out of position.

She also knows patience and can win with finesse as well as strength.

When the match is on the line, nothing makes Stunova happier than an opponent who wants to go stroke for stroke.

“I like to hit the ball hard,” she said.

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SECOND TEAM’

SHERA WIEGLER

Calabasas

Senior

* Coyotes’ No. 1 singles player had a 51-3 set record. Teamed with Kirsten Gross to win the Southern Section doubles championship.

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KIRSTEN GROSS

Calabasas

Senior

* Played No. 2 singles behind Wiegler. Had a 39-2 set record as Coyotes reached Southern Section Division III semifinals.

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ERIN SMITH

Westlake

Junior

* Co-player of the year in the Marmonte League. Had 55-5 set record, 42-0 in league play. Led team to 17-3 overall record, 14-0 in league play.

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KATY SMITH

Westlake

Junior

* With twin Erin, won Marmonte League doubles championship and advanced to round of 16 in Southern Section tournament.

SECOND TEAM’

HELENA HORAK

Westlake, sophomore

* Co-player of the year in the Marmonte League. Had a 69-5 set record, 42-0 in league play. Advanced to round of 16 in Southern Section individual tournament.

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LESLIE MUSSER

Van Nuys, sophomore

* Top City Section player in the region. She had record of 15-1, losing only in the quarterfinals of the section individual tournament.

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DEBRA PEPKOWITZ

Calabasas, junior

* Had 52-5 set record and completed a formidable singles threesome for the Coyotes, who advanced to the Southern Section Division II semifinals.

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VICKI HULL

La Reina, senior

* In Southern Section Division V matches, she lost only five sets in four years of doubles play, posting 103-5 career record.

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CATHERINE CHIEN

La Reina, junior

* Teamed with Hull for a 37-2 record as Regents won their second consecutive Southern Section Division V team championship.