Stivers senior Siler a self-taught tennis sensation

Second-singles player has surprised herself by going 13-1 this season for Tigers.

Jan Underwood Stivers senior Emily Siler, 17, has improved from a winless freshman tennis season to 13 wins to 1 loss on the courts this year.

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By Debbie Juniewicz, Contributing Writer Updated 2:10 AM Sunday, October 4, 2009

There's no club or private coach for Emily Siler, just some neighborhood tennis courts and a willing brother to hit with, but the Stivers School for the Arts senior couldn't be happier. Siler has compiled a 13-1 record at second singles for the 12-2 Tigers this season.

"Emily really exemplifies our team," Stivers coach Mike Unger said. "She is a blue-collar player who has never taken a single lesson but she absolutely loves the game."

After missing out on two seasons of girls tennis due to failed levies by Dayton Public Schools, Siler was thrilled to be back on the court for her final high school season and is looking forward to sectional tournament play getting underway this week. But the 17-year-old doesn't simply excel on the courts, as she maintains a 4.0 grade-point average and plays viola both at Stivers and with the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

"Viola fits her personality," Stivers orchestra director Lois Ramey said. "The role the viola plays in the orchestra is not a starring one yet there would be a big gaping hole without it. That's Emily, she's quiet, but not timid, and incredibly focused. If she decides to do something, it gets done."

That determination has always been evident on the courts.

In her words

"I played volleyball for many years, all through middle school, but I tried out for the high school team my freshman year and didn't make it. So, the very next day, I started playing tennis. I had lots of motivation to get better. Every night I wanted to go out and hit a little with whoever would hit with me.

"There were quite a few things I didn't know when I started playing tennis. I remember going to my first match, I got there and I had no idea what to do during warm-ups, but I caught on.

"Two wins was my goal for this season because I had never had two wins in a single season before. I won one match my freshman year and one match when I played for the boys team last year, and that was it. This season, I won my first two right off the bat so I bumped my goal up to five wins, and then when I hit that I didn't have a goal anymore, I had already surpassed them all."

"I would have said they were crazy if someone would have told me that I'd be 13-1. I mean, no way, I had only won one match a season. But it has been a really successful season. Nothing could make it better — well ..."

"I want to play on Thursday, that's my goal now. I play in the (Division II) sectional qualifier on Wednesday but I really want to make it to Thursday. I've never won a sectional match but I have more experience now. I'm a senior and it's my last chance so I hope to do well.

"If I had a day with nothing to do, I'd probably play some tennis, then watch some tennis on TV and hang out with my friends, maybe go see a movie. I also have a part-time job as a library aide at the Dayton Metro Library so I don't have much free time but I don't mind."

"Tennis has taught me not to give up. I definitely could have given up after my first season, or after the boys season. Most of those matches were 6-0, 6-0 losses and that got a little discouraging. But I've learned that if you want something, you have to work for it."

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