PREPS: A Q&A with Temescal Canyon girls tennis player Louise Dequilla


Think your weekly dance card is full? Try stepping into Louise Dequilla's shoes.

The Temescal Canyon senior's schedule of activities and awards reads longer than an 8-year-old's Christmas wish list.

She's an accomplished co-captain on the Titans' twice-defending Sunbelt League champion girls tennis team, and a steady weekend competitor in United States Tennis Association tournaments. And through it all, she's been a straight-A student.

But wait, there's more.

Here's a healthy sampling: National Honor Society Secretary. Associate Student Body Communications Director. Athletic Council of Ethics Treasurer, school leader of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes (FCA), finalist for 2011 homecoming queen, Principal's honor roll, league singles champion, league most valuable player

Other than that ... Dequilla doesn't have much going on.

She's actually not nearly as busy on the tennis court. Last year, Dequilla went undefeated in league -- and did it without surrendering as much as a game.

It's the tennis equivalent of a pitcher throwing a no-hitter in every start.

Dequilla slumped a bit this season. She lost a total two league games while completing another perfect record.

Her slight 5-foot-3, 115-pound frame has not stopped her from overpowering most opponents. She has received tennis scholarship offers from colleges on both coasts.

"Louise has been an inspiration and an example of dedication since she came out," Titans coach Laural Hebein-Pulley said. "She has led in a way girls can respect, and she shows how hard work can have awesome results."

Her competition increases this week, as she and her teammates compete in the CIF Southern Section team tennis playoffs.

Despite her heavy weekly dose of serving, studying and social networking, Dequilla squeezed in a few minutes to chat with The Californian about faith, family and forehands.

Question: What are you more proud of? Your undefeated league record, or your 4.50 GPA?

Answer: In my family, I've always been raised with these priorities: God first, then family, then school, then tennis, then everything else. Doing well in academics has been a must for me for as long as I can remember, so I take a lot of pride in that.

Q: What has been the key to your tennis success?

A: I would say the usual answer of practice makes perfect, but honestly, I wouldn't be able to do anything without my deep faith in the Lord. He is ultimately my main priority and I try to offer up everything to Him, be it success or failure, since He gave me all of these blessings in the first place.

Q: You are not very big. How are you able to generate power on your serves and ground strokes?

A: Timing and fast racket head speed. I'm nowhere near the size of Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova, so I know that I have to compensate by being fast on the court and taking time away from my opponent by being aggressive and taking the ball early.

Q: How in the world do you fit all of your activities into a week?


