THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 13, 1995 TAG: 9507120159
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
RAINEY OWEN REMEMBERS stepping onto a tennis court for the first time as a 4-year-old. As she put it, ``the racket was bigger than me.''
Owen also remembers taking her first clinic with the Suffolk Tennis Association as a nervous 8-year-old.
But Owen's fondest memory of playing tennis as a youngster was at 14, when she fell in love with the sport.
``I really didn't like tennis that much before I turned 14,'' Owen said. ``Before that, going out to practice every day seemed more like a job to me. I stopped playing basketball and horseback riding and realized that I really loved tennis.''
Becoming successful may have had something to do with enjoying tennis.
Owen ended her junior career as the fifth-ranked 16-year-old in the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Association, was Nansemond-Suffolk's top singles player and this summer is the director of the Suffolk Tennis Association's clinics. The 20-year-old will head to Miami University in Ohio in the fall.
``I'm really excited and looking forward to it,'' Owen said. ``I wanted a good Division I (tennis) program, but it had to be good academic-wise, too.''
The road to Miami hasn't been an easy one, though. Owen had to deal with something more challenging than any opponent she's ever faced on the tennis court.
After graduating from Nansemond-Suffolk a year early, in 1992, Owen went to the College of William and Mary. As a freshman, she played singles at Nos. 4 through 6 and played doubles at No. 3.
``Every thing was going great,'' she said, until the following summer.
After teaching a morning tennis clinic in Southampton, N.Y., Owen went to a nearby convenience store to get some juice. When she returned to her car, a man jumped in the back seat with a gun.
``He told me to look forward and drive south,'' Owen said. ``He threatened to kill me and just told me to get on the interstate.''
Owen drove the man 6 1/2 hours to Columbia, Md., where he walked away.
``I don't even remember half of the drive, which is good,'' Owen said. ``So many things were going through my mind. I was scared and kept wondering what to do.''
That incident put tennis and school on hold for a while.
``After that I just wanted to be alone,'' Owen said. ``I know it could've ended there so I wasn't myself and I was down. I needed to come back home.''
Owen took a much-needed year off from school and tennis. The time off helped her cope with what happened.
``The more I talked about it with my family and friends, the better I felt,'' Owen said. ``I started to appreciate things more.''
Owen was eager to get back to school and playing tennis. She began taking classes at Old Dominion University and played doubles for the Monarchs.
Owen soon realized, however, that she might be rushing things.
``I really wanted to get back to playing, but it was just too soon,'' she said. ``It was nothing negative about ODU. I found out I needed more time.''
More time off convinced her she had to get her life back.
``I really wanted to get back in school and to play tennis,'' Owen said. ``Education is important to me and to my family so I didn't want to be out of school. I wanted to look for a good academic and tennis program.''
She had the opportunity to return to Old Dominion or start over at a new school. Virginia Tech, George Washington and George Mason were in the running - until she got a call from Ray Reppert at Miami.
Reppert coached Owen at William and Mary before taking a job at the Harry Hopman Tennis Academy in Tampa, Fla.
``He asked me to come for a visit, and at the time I was thinking that I didn't want to go to school in Ohio,'' Owen said. ``If I was going to go there, it would have to be perfect. I went there for a visit and I loved it.''
Knowing Reppert would be coaching at Miami helped Owen make her decision.
``It helps knowing he'll be there,'' Owen said. ``He has so much knowledge of the game, and he makes you a better player. He also makes it so much fun.''
Reppert said he was equally pleased with Owen's decision to attend Miami .
``She's going to be a definite asset to our program,'' Reppert said. ``Rainey is talented and has a strong, powerful game. She'll also help the team with her positive attitude.''
Owen's attitude is what makes her a great player and person, according to Reppert.
``A lot of situations in life can have a negative impression over us,'' Reppert said. ``Rainey has the commitment and dedication to come back after what happened and she has a good enough attitude to get back in the game. This is a new opportunity for her to enjoy tennis and school.''
Owen agreed that going to Miami is an opportunity to start over.
``I feel really good and I'm over what's happened,'' Owen said. ``I'm ready to get back into school and back to playing tennis. I've never been happier.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Rainey Owen works with some of her students during a class at Lake
Meade Landing tennis courts.
by CNB