Ann Propheter still shakes her head when she thinks back to the fateful decision 2 years ago to install a wide-eyed freshman as her No. 1 singles player on Newman's varsity tennis team.

Only these days, the disbelief stems more from how far Mary Alice Oswalt has come.

"I look back now and still say to myself, 'What was I thinking, putting that poor little girl through that?' " Propheter said. "But she handled the pressure so well, and it gave her such a sense of confidence out on the court. That just shows what kind of person she is."