One to Watch: East Bay Resident Layla Sanders
By Amy Mosley
August 7, 2008
Berkeley, CA
 El Cerrito, CA. resident Layla Sanders just turned 15 years old a few weeks ago. She’ll be a sophomore this fall, and has been playing in the Girls 18 and under National Championships this week in Berkeley, California. She’s one of the youngest players in this tournament.
“To me, age doesn’t really matter,” Layla says, when talking about tennis. “I like the competition, and of course I like winning. I like to play different players at every age.”
Speaking calmly while stretching her legs after a match, Layla’s soft brown eyes and long golden ponytail seem to be at odds with the words that come out of her mouth. This girl is tough.
This year, she has ranked 4th in Northern California’s 18 and under. “Layla’s been playing 18 and under since she was 12 and a half,” her father, Layton Sanders, says. Having held sectional first place rankings for both the 10 and 12 and under categories, and a top National ranking in the 14s, she was ready.
“At 13, I focused more on development, and I handpicked my tournaments, so I wouldn’t get burned out,” Layla says. By working on her strokes and game, she believes this plan has worked well for her.
Layla started playing tennis when she was eight. Her father had taken her to a Bank of the West tennis match, where she saw Venus Williams play. Afterwards, Layla got Venus’s autograph and chatted briefly with her on the sidelines. Layton Sanders recalls that Venus told Layla that tennis requires a lot of hard work. That night, Layla told her father, “This is the best day of my life. I want to play tennis.” So her dad bought her a Venus junior racquet, and that was the beginning of Layla’s tennis career.
So at eight she began with the Youth Tennis Advantage program at Laney College, where she benefited from some great tennis players and high performance training. “I learned every style of game from a lot of practice matches,” Layla says. Layla has chosen to give back to this organization by hitting with the younger juniors as a successful role model.
Today at the Berkeley Tennis Club Layla played while showing a maturity equal to a much older player. At 15, she doesn’t yell when she makes a mistake, or even when she hits a winner. Just a fist pump, or a quietly spoken, “Come on.”
“I try to stay positive and not get down on myself. I have an opponent, so why should I beat myself?” She avoids other self-abuse too. When asked if she slaps her thigh the way some players do in a match, Layla answers, “I used to do that, but it started to hurt, so I just fist pump.”
Her dad says that Layla is mature for her age, and drama on the courts in the younger age divisions is something Layla chooses to avoid. She skipped the 16 and under category, and is doing just fine, thriving in the 18 and under group. She also played the Junior Fed Cup in July, a one-week team event. Plus, she won a prequalification event for singles at last year’s San Francisco Classic, a Pro-Circuit tournament. She plays about one tournament a month throughout the year.
Layla supplements her high school work with additional online studies, and keeps her focus on both academics and tennis. She played on her high school tennis team last year, and as a freshmen won the Alameda – Contra Costa Athletic League (ACCAL) conference. Eating burritos and listening to the Moody Blues and the Beatles are among Layla’s favorite things. Layla has gotten to know other Northern California USTA girls in her category, while stipulating that “we’re competitors, of course, and after team events, we’re friends.”
When asked what her goals are, Layla immediately says, “I want to get an academic or athletic scholarship into a top Division I college.” Layla is also a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, and maintains a 4.0 GPA. With her focus and direction, Layla is someone to keep an eye on.
For photos and more information, please see www.ustagirls.org For media questions, contact USTAGIRLSTENNIS@gmail.com or call Anita Bloch at 510-220-1959 or Brenda Mathews at 510-316-7282
Personal Profile: Aeriel Ellis, Hayward, CA
By Anita Bloch
August 7, 2008
Berkeley, California
 When I met Aeriel Ellis yesterday, she was being mobbed for T-shirt autographs by kids from the Boys Club and Girls Club. We sat down to speak and it was quickly evident that this 17-year is a bundle of poise and experience.
She picked up a racket at age 4 and started playing at 6 years. Her Dad played and her brother played at Penn State and UC-Irvine. She really looks up to her brother.
Aeriel achieved a Top 10 in the country ranking while attending Hayward High School full-time. When asked her plans for next year, Aeriel explained that she plans to take a year off. “I figured that I am doing pretty well keeping up with the girls who are good and who have not been in a full-time school program, so I figured I would give it a try.” “Let’s see what I can do when I can devote more time to my tennis.” “I want to try the Pro circuit and see how it works out; then I can go to college and get a good education.” Aeriel plans to play the 10K hard-court tournaments in the United States.
With no sponsors, Aeriel and her family decide which tournaments to play. Aerial says, “playing in many tournaments gets expensive – the flip side is that you need to play in them to get points for the rankings.”
Aeriel is only 17 years old, so she might be back to play this tournament next year if she gets an invite. She is not likely to be the only graduating senior to take a year off and try their hand. This trend seems to be popular with the younger age grade level seniors. This year gives them a chance to work on various fitness, mental and tennis skills.
She came in 6th place at this tournament last year. Aeriel plays 3 hours day plus the time she spends on fitness training. She plays typically 6 days/ week with Sunday reserved for church.
For photos and more information, please see www.ustagirls.org For media questions, contact USTAGIRLSTENNIS@gmail.com or call Anita Bloch at 510-220-1959 or Brenda Mathews at 510-316-7282
Kids Day at USTA Girls 18 Tournament
By Anita Bloch
August 6, 2008
Berkeley, California
 At first, it seemed like it was not going to happen. The commercial vans that were to transport 20+ kids from the Boys Club and Girls Club and Oakland were vandalized Friday August 1. The vans’ gas lines were cut and the gas siphoned off. The vans were inoperable.
Fortunately, the Claremont Resort and Spa, a co-sponsor of the event, was able to help with the use of one commercial van. So 12 lucky kids from the Boys Club and Girls Club were able to attend Kids’ Day today at the Berkeley Tennis Club. They were joined by youth from the Berkeley National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) and Youth Tennis Advantage. Arthur Ashe founded the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) in 1969 "as a way to gain and hold the attention of young people in the inner cities and other poor environments so that we can teach them about matters more important than tennis….Through tennis, lives can be changed and spirits reclaimed." Cheri King founded a Berkeley, CA chapter two years ago.YTA focuses on promoting self-esteem in at-risk youth through sports and other programs. YTA is the recipient of this Girls18 National Tournament proceeds.
The tournament visitors learned about tennis and the educational opportunities and personal confidence and satisfaction it brings to those involved in the sport. They also received college tee shirts and autographs from the players. Players Jenna Doerfleur, a Schroeder Scholarship recipient from Winter Park, FL and Keri Frankenberger from Gainesville, FL. talked to the youth about how they love tennis and work hard to improve. They talked about their dedication to the sport and their hopes for attending college. Michigan Head Coach Ronni Bernstein also spoke to the kids. She suggested that kids do something they like and work hard. “You never know where that might take you; I got a free education, a degree and I am still working in the field of tennis doing what I like to do!”
For photos and more information, please see www.ustagirls.org
For media questions, contact USTAGIRLSTENNIS@gmail.com or call Anita Bloch at 510-220-1959 or Brenda Mathews at 510-316-7282
Personal Perspectives, “What a difference a year makes!”
By Anita Bloch
August 6, 2008
Berkeley, California
That is the perspective of a parent watching his daughter play her last Junior Tournament before heading off to Vanderbilt University to play Division I Tennis. She is here in Berkeley, California playing the USTA Girls 18 National Tournament. See www.ustagirls.org for more information.
Last year, Heather Steinbauer was a seeded player, about to start her senior year in The Woodlands, Texas. Her dad empathizes with the families in the position of entering their senior year in a few weeks.
For those girls about to enter their senior year of high school the stress level here at the tournament is high. First, there are the faces of so many college recruiters taking a good look at potential players. Thoughts run to what must they be looking for? How am I playing? In fact, according to Luke Jensen of Syracuse University, “I’m looking for one thing – character.” His team is gauging a player’s attitude and effort – the assumption is that by the time they reach this tournament, their tennis levels are acceptably high. The intangible meshing of personalities is also key. After all, players and coaches will be spending a lot of time together and both parties need to get along.
Schools have been able to speak directly with the girls starting July 1. With the Nationals Clay Court in July in Memphis, TN, and the Fed Cup last weekend in Novato, CA, this tournament is the “piece-de-resistance,” in the summer.
In addition to their tennis achievements, these girls have academic pressure. According to Max Retzlaff of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College, a Division III school, there is a minimum GPA requirement to attend their schools. Prior to this tournament, she reviewed stats and knows which players are possible contenders. Division III schools offer only academic scholarships, Division I schools typically offer a full scholarship. Coach Kim Gidley of the Air Force Academy says that “ the majority of the girls are looking for good academics and tennis can be the means to get a good education.”
In a way, it is a bittersweet goodbye. Many parents are here to see their daughters play their last junior tournament. Girls who have known each other for years in the various tournaments are almost feeling a “graduation day” celebration. Many are sporting their intended colleges T-shirts and they are clearly enjoying the satisfaction of having made a decision. They are excited about the next chapter of their tennis lives.
But for those who are about to start their senior year, here comes the oft-tormented decision process: full scholarship at one school vs. a partial scholarship at another school? How far away can they be from their family? There are so many unknowns to be juggled; parents and players must learn to cope with the unknowns for a while.
Oh yeah… there is one more thing…the winner of this event gets a Wild Card into the US Open. Next stop, New York City August 25th anyone?
For media questions, contact USTAGIRLSTENNIS@gmail.com or call Anita Bloch at 510-220-1959 or Brenda Mathews at 510-316-7282
San Francisco All-Around Performer Natalie Dillon
By Amy Mosley
August 4, 2008
Natalie Dillon is one of 192 finalists competing in the prestigious USTA Girls’ 18 National Championships now under way. Natalie will play both singles and doubles matches here. An only child and a public parks kid, Natalie grew up a block from the Mission playground in San Francisco, where she started hitting tennis balls at the age of seven. Her parents don’t play tennis, but Natalie discovered her love for this sport and has stuck with it. She played competitively, often five days a week with the Youth Tennis Advantage, a group that promotes the sport for inner city kids. As she got older, Natalie did some work for Youth Tennis Advantage, and remains in contact with coaches there. (Youth Tennis Advantage is the recipient of the tournament’s proceeds).
Natalie seems to enjoy her high school tennis team as much as traveling to tournaments. “I like the team environment. You get close with team players, cheering each other on. You’re not just playing for yourself.”
Her record shows that she is ranked 6th in Northern California the Girls’ 18 and under division, and she’s traveled as far as England and Thailand to compete in tournaments. Her favorite trip was to Thailand, which she says was “the biggest cultural shock for me, and the biggest learning experience.” Natalie earned a wildcard into the distinguished San Francisco Tennis Classic singles and doubles qualifier draw on the ITF Women’s tour, as well.
“She’s a fantastic all-around person,” says Craig Law, her private coach. “Natalie is very competitive. In the off-season, she’ll spend three hours a day in the gym. “As well, she strives to balance sports, academics, family and social life. She is equally concerned with her personal development as a whole person. She gets out and has fun,” says her coach. With a 3.7 GPA, Natalie successfully achieves this balance well. While she doesn’t miss much school because of tennis, Natalie notes that she has missed every birthday for the last seven years, due to being on the road during August, for tennis. Recently, friends surprised her and took her to Benihana to celebrate her birthday this year. She was delighted.
Natalie is also a track and field star in school, at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School, where she runs the 300-meter hurdles on the varsity track team. “I hold the best time, and made the CCS finals,” Natalie says. Natalie has been on the Student Council for two years, and this year she’ll be the Girls Athletic Representative.
Her activities don’t stop there. Natalie is fighting for social justice, and has started a club at her high school that has gotten attention from other high schools to replicate across the country. She and a friend started a club called, “Not for Sale,” to raise awareness about human trafficking, based on David Batstone’s book, Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade – and How We Can Fight It.
“It’s a huge social injustice. It happens everywhere. Not a lot of people know about it. I’m in a privileged space to put some light on it and teach people about the issue,” Natalie explains. She has given speeches in Georgia, Louisiana, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Heading into her senior year, Natalie has already figured out what interests her. Her college areas of study will include business, political science, and international relations, And tennis too? “I couldn’t imagine my life without it,” Natalie says.
For media questions, contact USTAGIRLSTENNIS@gmail.com or call Anita Bloch at 510-220-1959 or Brenda Mathews at 510-316-7282
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