All-Empire girls tennis: Marghi Andreassi is Player of the Year

Marghi Andreassi didn’t drop a set in NBL play last season and finished third in the North Coast Section Division I Tournament.

For those accomplishments, the Montgomery sophomore is a no-brainer selection for Redwood Empire Player of the Year in tennis.

It’s the second year in a row Andreassi has been picked for the sport’s top honor.

Cardinal Newman coach Tony Greco, whose team finished first in the NBL, had this to say about Andreassi:

“In terms of intensity and focus, she’s heads and shoulders above everybody in the league. She has great footwork and is always prepared for each ball.

“She’s definitely one of the best female players we’ve had in this area in a number of years. On top of her skill level, she’s a fierce competitor.”

Andreassi’s high school coach Sean Benoit echoed Greco’s opinions.

“She has natural ability but it’s her work ethic that makes her so good and is the reason she’s improving,” he said. “Between her freshman and sophomore year, she’s strengthened her core which puts more power on her serve and ground strokes.

“Also, she’s learned better how to construct points. She’s very mature for an underclassman.”

Andreassi also excels in the classroom where she carries a 4.5 grade- point average.

In college, she plans to major in either business or medicine.

“My parents are in the medical field and I might do that,” the 15-year-old said. “However, business intrigues me.”

Of course, she also hopes to play collegiate tennis.

“I think tennis has helped me in school,” she said. “Tennis requires discipline and so does school and homework.”

Andreassi doesn’t put her racquet away when the high school season ends. She plays year-round at United States Tennis Association tournaments and trains several times a week with teaching pro Jose Hilla.

The two start with 90 minutes of hitting drills and conclude with 30-40 minutes of conditioning that includes medicine and resistance balls.

Andreassi doesn’t come from a family of tennis players.

“My parents were looking for a sport for me to play and one that I tried was tennis,” she said. “It was fun and I stayed with it.”

She started taking lessons as a 6-year-old with John Potter at La Cantera Racquet Club.

Andreassi said her game improved her sophomore year, especially the backhand and consistency on her serve. She expects to develop more next season.

She’s already set goals for her junior year.

“I don’t want to drop a set in league and I want to win North Coast Section,” she said.

A proven high achiever, expect her to reach those goals.

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