Saratoga News

Bittner wins tourney spot

By Dick Sparrer

It's been quite a year for Saratoga's Michele Bittner. It all started last fall during the girls' high school tennis season when she won the Central Coast Section title for Menlo School.

Then it culminated last week when she participated in the girls under-18 national championships at the Almaden Valley Athletic Club.

And in between, she's certainly been making quite a name for herself in national tennis circles.

"She's definitely a very, very talented kid," said Brookside professional Van Hooks of Bittner. "And she's playing very well."

Bittner, 17, qualified for the nationals by placing fourth in the sectionals at the Berkeley Tennis Club, and she was also fourth in the Junior Excellence tournament in Sacramento.

Bittner opened the under-18 tourney at AVAC with a win in the first round, then lost in the second round to the No. 9 seed. She ended up losing in the consolation round to fall out of the field.

"But this was her first go round at the national level," said Hooks. "And this experience of playing in the nationals is a good experience for her."

What's more, it offers a great chance to get exposure. "This is where the top college coaches from around the country come out and scout the players," added Hooks.

Bittner also competed in the National Girls 18 Clay Court championships in Tennessee this past summer and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Hooks indicated that Bittner's performance at the event was especially impressive since "she's a California girl, and we don't play on clay."

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