April 26, 2007

By Roy Fuoco
The Ledger

Monica Arguello remained a state champion Wednesday morning, and barely broke out a sweat to retain her title. Overcoming a slow start, the George Jenkins senior defeated Tallahassee Leon's Holly Johnson, 6-3, 6-3, in the overall final of the 2007 FHSAA Class 3A Girls Tennis Finals at Sanlando Park in a display of skill and mental toughness. Arguello needed just more than an hour to become the first Polk County girl and the 20th girl in Florida to win at least two state titles.

Despite Arguello winning 11 of the last 14 games in the match, including the last three in a row, it was Johnson who had early command with a 3-1 lead. But Arguello, who rallied from 5-2 in the third set last year to win a title, figured on making another comeback.

"I really wanted to defend my title," said Arguello, who's committed to Furman in South Carolina. "I tried to play my best. I didn't want to fall like last year into just a little lob game. I tried to hit more. When she was up 3-1, she was using angles and coming to the net, so I had to go for my shots. Win or lose I had to go for my shots, and it worked out."

Arguello used a combination of patience and aggressiveness to turn the tide against Johnson, a senior who signed with Virginia Tech last fall.

Playing mostly at the baseline, coming to the net only in response to short volleys from Johnson, Arguello went on to win the next five games and take the first set.

"She came out hitting everything - clean, crisp beautiful angles and setting things up," Jenkins coach Paul Walker said. "To be mentally tough enough to sustain that early barrage and not just panic- she didn't panic. A lot players at that stage say, 'Oh my God, that girl's on fire, and I'm down 3-1.' The next thing you know, it's 5-2. There was no panic, play the next game, play the next point. She played three great games in a row to go up 4-3. When she went up 4-3, you could see a little switch click for Holly."

Added Johnson, "I tried to change things. Being patient wasn't really working, especially being more patient than her, so I just tried to go for it."

Arguello played to her strengths: patient rallies, mixing up hard shots with lobs, topspins, slices and drop shots to control the rhythm of the match.

"I tried to move her around," Arguello said. "I couldn't let her dictate points or she would dominate me totally."