THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503170203
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
BETTY ENNIS - rhymes with tennis - does not really sew eyes on her tennis balls. It just looks that way to her opponents.
And who could blame them for thinking that way?
Ennis' lobs land an inch or so inside the line, and deep in the corner. Her volleys have the touch of a surgeon and they too find the perfect spot - the one where an opponent isn't. And her top-spin forehand has the sizzle of a July Fourth cookout. She generates surprising power for someone with such economical movements. A flick of her wrist and the ball flies off her racket and zips over the net, barely clearing the tape.
Ennis, 54, began playing tennis in 1971. The 1959 Princess Anne High School graduate has always played something. She was voted Most Athletic in her class.
``I played everything girls could play in those days,'' said Ennis. ``Softball, basketball. In those days, girls played six on a side, just half-court, three on offense, three on defense.''
Her athleticism enabled her to advance quickly once she took up tennis.
``Kay Wakely was my first instructor at Lynnhaven (Parks and Recreation class),'' Ennis recalled. ``My neighbor, whose mother was a North Carolina state champion said, `Let's go take lessons.' We did. I loved it. She never played again as far as I know.''
Ennis not only took lessons, she started taking to the courts with a frenzy.
``I play three times a week now. I have been known to play three times a day, and I used to play seven or eight times a week, doubles and singles,'' she said.
A bad back limits her to strictly doubles play now. She wears a brace on court.
For the past 12 years, Ennis has been part of a quartet of women who meet every Tuesday morning for a doubles strategy clinic with Jose Benjumea, head professional at Owls Creek Municipal Tennis Center.
The 90-minute sessions include 70 minutes of instruction and practicing and 20 minutes of match play. On a recent beautiful March morning, Ennis joined Faye Clarke, Kay Shiflett and Jean Balko on the court. Balko and Ennis have teamed for Saturday morning doubles matches for 20 years.
Benjumea had the ladies working on something called poaching - one partner cutting off the ball in front of the other.
Ennis didn't look like she needed much help. She plays at a 5.0 level as a doubles player.
``At this level, Betty takes maintenance lessons, to keep up with strategy and hit some practice balls,'' said Benjumea. ``She's a really good player. Ask her about Pauline Betz, the former Wimbledon champion she played and beat in doubles.''
Ennis smiled shyly and said: ``Well, she was older and had slowed down by the time we played her. Partners are so important in doubles. She may have been better as a singles player. Many people are.''
OK, modesty aside, who won?
``We did,'' said Ennis. ``It was an honor to be on the same court with her. I wasn't intimidated after the game started.''
Her opponents can be forgiven for that feeling when they step on the court with Ennis. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
For the past 12 years, Betty Ennis has been part of a quartet of
women who meet every Tuesday morning for a doubles strategy clinic
with Jose Benjumea, head professional at Owl Creek Tennis Center.
by CNB