Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 15, 1994 TAG: 9409220006
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
No, Acharya is not in the army. She is a Pulaski County High School freshman whose early wake-up call is followed by a workout and a 7:30 a.m. bus ride.
Acharya, the Cougars' top-seeded girls' tennis player, thrives under the demands placed on an individual who wants to succeed in the world of tennis. Though her day may begin at dawn, it certainly doesn't end at dusk.
After putting in a full day in the classroom, where she maintains a 3.6 grade point average, Acharya goes to tennis practice for 21/2 hours. Aside from school-sponsored practice, she has private lessons and clinics to attend. Acharya estimates she spends 15-20 hours a week on the court.
Despite all the time and effort she devotes to tennis, a sport which has seen many aspiring young phenoms burn out at a young age, Acharya has no fear she will tire of the sport.
"[My parents] know when I'm burned out and they tell me to rest, " said Acharya. "I just like playing and competing. It wouldn't matter if I played tournaments, high school tennis or with my dad. It would be fun."
Though Priya may not worry about burnout, her parents do.
"We worry about that," said Dr. Paras Acharya, Priya's mother. "We don't push her too hard. We tell her to relax and play only as much as she wants. We put no pressure on her to win or achieve a certain ranking."
Acharya excels in tennis, even though she plays in an area devoid of posh country clubs and indoor courts where private lessons are given. Ironically, it was the move away from that type of environment that allowed Acharya to begin playing tennis.
She moved with her parents, both physicians, from Queens, N.Y., to Pulaski.
"I tried to start when I was eight, but we were always so busy that we did not have time," said Priya. "We came to Virginia and we had more time."
"We have more time for the kids," said Paras Acharya. "They were always the priority, but in New York you can spend your life in traffic."
With a surplus of time on her hands, Acharya took up tennis in late 1991 and immediately began taking private lessons. In 1992, she started playing in selected United States Tennis Association tournaments as her rapid development began.
Last year was a breakthrough year for Acharya, who saw her ranking in the 14-and-under age group soar to 23rd in the state after only year of tournament competition. Along the way she captured the 1993 Roanoke City Junior Open tournament for girls 14-and-under.
In her continuing effort to stay on the fast track to the top, Acharya attended Van DerMeer Tennis University in Sweet Briar this summer. At Van DerMeer's, which instructs youngsters from all over the country, Acharya was on the summer circuit. After a week of intensive practice, she played in tournaments across the state.
At Van DerMeer, "we work a lot harder," said Acharya. "We travel together and play in certain tournaments. My match play improved a lot."
In May, Acharya captured her first tournament in the 16-and-under classification, the Martinsville Blue Ribbon Open. En route to the tournament title, Acharya defeated two seeded opponents and was extended to three sets in both the semifinals and finals.
Despite her previous experience playing in tournaments and camps, this fall will provide Priya with a new challenge, helping a team win. In her first endeavor into team tennis, Acharya's big forehand will be counted on to help carry Pulaski County through the season.
"She has the skills of a 20-year-old," said Pulaski tennis coach Gina Miano, who has given Acharya private lessons. "We have to work with her on strategy, consistency and confidence."
Though high school will be her first experience with team tennis, Priya has no plans for it to be her last.
"I want to go undefeated," said Priya. "I would like to get a [college] scholarship and play on the team."
With college still several years off, Priya will concentrate her efforts on helping the Cougars improve on last year's 4-4 record and third-place finish in the Roanoke Valley District.
Playing second flight singles for the Cougars will be returning senior Ashley Sypniewski. Also returning from last season's squad will be Kristen Beeler, a sophomore, who will play at No.3. The only other returnee from last season is junior Ashley Hutchens, the team's No.5 singles player. Newcomers Nicole Smith, a junior, and sophomore Lora Coltrane will play at Nos.4 and 6, respectively.
Acharya and Beeler will be the Cougars' top doubles team, and Sypniewski and Smith will play second doubles. Rounding out the squad will be Hutchens and Brooke Copeland at third doubles.
by CNB