Has only been playing tennis for 18 months
Hahnville High School tennis player Stephanie Hebert was one of nine 16-year-old girls chosen from Louisiana to represent the state at the USTA Southern Regional Tennis Tournament in Rome, Ga.
Hebert, who lives in Bayou Gauche, lost her first two matches during the tournament but said that it was still a great learning experience.
“I was pretty nervous because I’ve never played in a tournament that big before,” Hebert said. “Even though I lost, I learned a lot and it was a really good experience to play in the event.”
Hebert was invited to the southern regional after her performance in the state qualifying tournament, which was held in Lafayette last month. She won two matches and advanced to the quarterfinal qualifier. But the most surprising thing about Hebert’s invitation to the southern regional is that she has only been playing tennis for 18 months.
“My dad played tennis in high school and he has been trying to get me to play for a while,” Hebert said. “I finally gave it a shot and I loved it.”
Hebert, who has received cum laude awards for her GPA in each of her first two years of high school, has also had success in doubles play.
Playing with partner Cassidy Chiasson, of Thibodaux, Hebert won the 2009 Houma Junior Open for 16 year olds, captured the 2010 Thibodaux Junior Grand Prix for 16 year olds and finished as a runner-up at the 2009 Morgan City Junior Open.
Hebert will continue her tennis career as a junior on Hahnville’s tennis team next season.
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