DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

When Katie Bick talks about why she loves tennis so much, it reveals a reason Sage Hill School is off to such a hot start this season in girls’ tennis. Bick’s answer is also telling of why she chose to attend Sage Hill, which is known to be challenging with regard to academics.

“I like the pressure,” Bick said of what draws her to tennis.

The statement also figures into other areas of her life. She has a dream to play college tennis at Stanford, then turn pro. But there are also aspirations to become a medical school student. Also, when she’s not playing tennis, she stays away from anything remotely close to a racquet. Or is it racket? She plays the piano and the cello.

As for her first few weeks at Sage Hill?

“It’s been a lot of fun,” the freshman said.

That was certainly the case last week. Bick won seven of nine singles matches to help lead small-school Sage Hill to wins over CIF Southern Section Division I programs Newport Harbor, Los Alamitos and Woodbridge. Bick’s talents are also shaping this Lightning team to be the best at the school that opened its doors in 2000. Sage Hill is seeking its first CIF Southern Section title in girls’ tennis since 2005.

“We won CIF three years ago and we needed that one girl to do it and that was Ashley Adams,” said Longoria, whose team is ranked No. 1 in CIF Division IV. “Now I think, [Bick] is that catalyst. She could be one of the reasons that we are successful. She’s definitely a quality player. It’s always tough coming to high school being a freshman and you must play older and experienced players. She has handled it pretty well. She is a little, pint-sized girl out there, but she is quick and tough. She is having a good time.”

Bick, all 5-foot-2 of her, showed her stuff in the three wins last week, and even on Monday when the Lightning lost to Mater Dei, 10-8. She won two of three singles matches, including a big win over the Monarch’s No. 1 singles player Neda Ghassemi.

“Besides being a very good singles player she is also a very good doubles player,” Longoria said of Bick, who is ranked No. 82 in the USTA Southern California girls’ 14s rankings. “When we play events like our Prep Classic this weekend, it really gives us a dual threat with her. When we are playing a tough team we can alter our lineup and attack the weakness of the other team.”

Against Harbor and Los Alamitos, the Lightning were not at full strength, as junior Julia Blakely was out with a strained calf against the Sailors and senior Jaclyn Smrecek was out with the flu against the Griffins. But Sage Hill showed its depth. Of course, it didn’t hurt to have Bick.

And to think, the main reason she found out about Sage Hill was because she saw the school as she and her mother, Kim, drove by on the 73 freeway. Bick called it a pretty campus. Eventually she knew she wanted to attend, rather than continue at Advantage Tennis Academy in Irvine. She actually could have gone to Dana Hills, which has the No. 1-ranked program in CIF Division I. She lives in Laguna Niguel.

But the challenge and that pressure thing led her to the small, private school in Newport Coast. She’s juggling academics, high school team tennis and individual tournaments, too. No pressure.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].