Overstreet is one of the veterans for Casey. She is one of four juniors on a team that has no seniors and lost three state qualifiers off last year's team to graduation. She knows her teammates are counting on her to lead by example and with her play on the court.
"We are pretty new. We have five people back from last year, and we're just trying to build and make it a better team," she said.
Wood said he thought the team was a year away from being competitive, and pointed out that Overstreet has done a good job of leading a team that counts on two eighth-graders and two freshmen at the varsity level.
"She's really done a good job as one of the leaders," Wood said.
Overstreet is doing whatever the team needs her to do, at any spot in the lineup. She has played the top four singles spots, where she has a 4-5 record. She is also 3-6 in doubles play, where she is usually paired with German exchange student Livia Emrich. But where she plays isn't as important to her as how she plays.
"It doesn't mater to me, as long as I play, as long as I'm winning for the team. That's all that matters. I was aiming for number one (singles), but (Wood) moves us around a lot, and he's putting us where he things we deserve," she said. "I just want to play and have a good season."
Overstreet said one spot isn't any different than another to her in terms of the toughness of a match.
"They're all pretty competitive, so wherever you have to play, you just have to play hard," she said.
Having a little vocal support along the way isn't such a bad thing either, she suggested. Tennis is a sport where a lot of noise is usually discouraged. But as far as Overstreet is concerned, the more noise the better.
"I like to hear people cheering for me. I do better that way. It's pushing me along and making me do better," said Overstreet, who added the noise helps her focus. "If it's quiet, I start daydreaming and then it's like, 'Oh, there's the ball.'"
