Mask of intensity

Lara Afanassiev's stoic on-the-courtLara Afanassiev's stoic on-the-courtpoersona has made her a leader on a youngLara Afanassiev's stoic on-the-courtpoersona has made her a leader on a youngW. Tennis team Watching Lara Afanassiev play tennis, one gets the idea she does not like to lose. Her legs flex casually as she awaits each serve, ready to explode when the ball is finally delivered. Her face is a mask of intensity, rarely betraying any type of emotion. Occasionally, the rare unforced error will emit a quick shake of the head and a whispered reproval before she quickly readies herself for the next point. It is a competitive drive such as this -- along with her natural talent, power and quickness -- that has helped Afanassiev become one of the top players in the Ivy League. Born and raised in Marlboro, N.J., Afanassiev, has been playing tennis since she was 10 years old. Originally a soccer player, she made the change when one of her best friends persuaded her to give the new sport a try. It did not take long for her to trade in her cleats for a pair of tennis shoes. She attended Morganville High School, which has one of the top tennis programs in New Jersey, and quickly emerged as a star. During summers, she traveled constantly, playing in tournaments as far away as California, often against international fields. After several visits to a few other colleges, Afanassiev finally decided that Penn was for her. Describing herself as a city person, she was drawn to Penn's urban campus, as well as its proximity to her hometown. It is not a decision she regrets. "I love it here," Afanassiev said. "I've had a great time so far and have made a lot of friends. I especially love being part of a team." Another determining factor that attracted Afanassiev to Penn was the success and reputation of the Quakers women's tennis team, in particular the reputation of her coach, Cissie Leary. The two of them actually met three years prior to Afanassiev admittance to the University, at a tournament the summer after her freshman year in high school. Leary's friendly and easy going nature appealed to Afanassiev, and they quickly developed a lasting friendship. Despite her early success at Penn, Afanassiev truly made a name for herself last year when Preety Sorathia, Penn's No. 1 singles player, went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. In the absence of Sorathia, who also served as team captain, Afanassiev found herself, along with classmate Andi Grossman, acting as one of the leaders of a very young Quakers squad. Both Afanassiev and Grossman were named co-captains this season. With Sorathia sidelined, Afanassiev assumed the No. 1 singles spot. She filled her new role aptly and eventually led Penn to a second-place finish in the Ivies, behind only Harvard. This year, Afanassiev finds herself not only preparing for tennis, but also for the full-time responsibilities of a team captain. With only two juniors and no seniors on the roster, leaders are a scarce commodity for the Quakers. "Me and Andi want to make the team more of a team," she said. "We want them to be able to come to us if they have any problems." The new season arrives with heightened expectations for the entire squad, yet those pressures pale in comparison to the goals Afanassiev sets for herself. Though she played well last year, memories of a decisive defeat at the hands of the Crimson's Ivy Wang rankles at her still. The Crimson went on to take the match handily, 7-1, but the final score was hardly a clear representation of how far the Quakers have come in recent years. Afanassiev claims that most of the matches could have gone either way and notes that Harvard graduated several of its top players -- though not Wang -- while the Quakers return their entire team. Afanassiev believes her moment of revenge is soon to come. The two teams will play at Penn this year, and Afanassiev feels the home-court advantage will make the difference. During her time at Penn, the women's tennis team has defeated every Ivy League team at least once except Harvard. Afanassiev knows that if she ever wants to wear the ring that declares her an Ivy League champion, the road is paved in Crimson. When asked how much the title would mean, her face lit up noticeably. "I can't even put it into words," she said.