GROVE CITY — There isn't much that can rattle Emily Gordon on the tennis court.

Down 40-love? No problem. Battling in a tough first set in the District 10 semifinals? No sweat.

Her calm demeanor belies her youth. The 15-year-old Grove City High freshman has seen older players implode on the court and refuses to let that happen to her.

“That's something I've seen personally,” Gordon said. “I see other people get really upset and it completely throws off their game.”

Not much can throw off Gordon's game these days.

She survived a grueling first set against Caitlyn Schultz of District 10 girls tennis powerhouse Mercyhurst Prep with a 7-5 win and then blanked Schultz, 6-0, in the second set to earn a spot in today's District 10 Class AA final.

The significance of that accomplishment is great. With the win, Gordon became the first player from Region 1 to reach a tennis final since 2008.

Who did it then? Her cousin, Kelly McBryan, a Grove City High graduate.

“I definitely knew I had a chance (to get to the District 10 final),” Gordon said. “I worked really hard in the summer. This is something I have worked my entire tennis career for.”

It hasn't been a particularly long tennis career.

At the age of 10, Gordon picked up her first tennis racquet so she could play with her cousins. McBryan was one of them.

It didn't take long for her to develop a love for the sport. It also helped that she was quite good at it.

She has honed her skills by playing in as many youth tournaments as she can enter.

Through it all she has had one singular focus: being as technically sound a player as she can be.

“I just spend so much time on technique,” Gordon said. “That something all my coaches have emphasized.”

Gordon has very few weaknesses. At 5-foot-9, she is long and lanky, which helps her powerful serve.

Grove City coach Jared Henshaw said it is what's going on in her head during a match, though, that is her best skill.

“She handles everything like a veteran,” Henshaw said. “She was down 40-love twice against Villa Maria and went on to win 6-0, 6-0. She controls the pace of the game very well and she's always relaxed and calm.”

Gordon admits it will be a challenge to contain her emotions that well when she takes on defending District 10 champion Lauren Petrella, a senior at Mercyhurst Prep, in the final at Pennbriar Athletic Club in Erie this afternoon.

“It's a huge accomplishment to get there,” Gordon said. “I feel like I have a whole county behind me and supporting me.”

Gordon actually played Petrella in a tournament when she was “10 or 11,” Gordon said.

It isn't unusual for Gordon to play against much-older opponents.

In fact, Gordon prefers it that way.

“I've played older girls since I was 10,” Gordon said. “So, I'm not too scared about it.

“There's somebody out there who is always better than you,” Gordon added. “That's what makes you work so hard to get better.”

Gordon will have to beat Petrella to punch her ticket to the PIAA Class AA Girls Tennis Championships, which begin Oct. 31 at the Hershey Racquet Club.

“I definitely think she has the potential and the skill to do it,” Henshaw said. “She definitely has the ability. We'll just have to see what happens.”