PENN TWP — Former South Butler School District student Elise Held already owns a WPIAL tennis title in doubles.

Now the Vincentian Academy sophomore wants to grab the brass ring in singles.

"Her dedication to succeed is her best attribute on the court,"said Robert Soneru, one of Held's coaches at the Lakevue Racquet Club. "Whether she's losing, winning, no matter the score ... she keeps coming and coming. She never gives up."

Held left the public school system after her eighth-grade year at Knoch. She's been playing tennis for only four years and Vincentian has had tennis for only eight years, yet both are hovering near the top of the WPIAL.

Vincentian was undefeated in section play last year and Held teamed with junior Alena Tesone to finish second in WPIALClass AAdoubles. The duo won the WPIALdoubles crown last year.

Held was Vincentian's No. 1 singles player this fall and finished fourth in WPIALsingles. Her loss in the semifinals was her first of the season.

"I'm an aggressive player," she said. "My strength is my serve and my forehand. I can hit the ball with power."

Now she's learning about finesse.

"We're working on placement, not power,"Soneru said. "Elise is working on playing a little smarter, working for the point longer.

"She already has the power. Now she's shooting with better angles."

So is a WPIALsingles title in her future?

"I think so,"Soneru said. "She will keep improving because she's coachable. She picks up on things we show her in practice and incorporates that into her game. A lot of young players don't do that."

For Held, practice makes perfect. Tennis is a year-round game for her.

She competes in the junior program at Lakevue three times a week and works individually with Soneru once or twice a week.

"I just want to do the best I can, stay healthy and have fun,"Held said. "Someday I'd like to use my skills in tennis to get a scholarship to college."

Held is also ranked among the top 300 players nationally for age 16 and under by the U.S. Tennis Association. She won a USTAtournament at Slippery Rock this summer that included players from the Middle States Region ofPennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and part of Ohio.

She defeated Beaver's Kim Borza, who reached the WPIALfinals this year, in that Slippery Rock tournament.

She began playing tennis at age 11 as part of Whitney Snyder's junior tennis program at the Butler Country Club.

"A couple of my friends played, so I decided to give it a try,"Held said. "Whitney coached me during that year and I really got into it."

Vincentian is building new tennis courts that will be ready by next season, when Held and Tesone return for their junior and senior seasons.

"Elise has made tremendous strides in her game,"Vincentian coach Jamie Graham said. "Her enthusiasm is infectious."