It's Tuesday, April 17, 2001. The Penn State women's tennis team has just watched a 3-1 lead against Indiana dwindle away into a 3-3 lock. The chance to conquer a Big Ten opponent that has never fallen to the Nittany Lions lies in the hands of a freshman.

She's down early in the first set but rallies back to win it. The next set goes to Indiana. The final set will determine the Lions' fate and the score is not in their favor.

Penn State's freshman, Leigh Ann Merryman, is losing 4-1. But it's not over and Merryman scores twice. At 5-3, her opponent calls an injury timeout due to leg cramps. Though she's just one point shy of losing, Merryman is not going to watch her opponent resign.

"She better not quit, because I'm going to beat her," the freshman tells her coach.

With all eyes on her, Merryman does just that and steals the first-ever victory for Penn State over Indiana away from her opponent.

"I knew when she looked to me with such confidence that I could always count on her in a pressure situation," Penn State women's tennis coach Buffy Baker said. "The tone was set [for her career] in her first season."

Merryman, now the lone junior of the women's tennis team, has taken on a new responsibility since she arrived two years ago. As an upperclassman, she is a role model.

For the past two years, Merryman has held a team-high winning percentage in singles for the Lions, and she is currently 14-4 overall with an undefeated Big Ten record. As a freshman she started at the No. 6 position on the team and has moved up two places each year, handling the No. 2 slot this season.

In her initial season at Penn State, Merryman was honored with the tennis team's "Grinder" Award, voted on by the players and presented to the athlete who never gives up in her matches and works hard every week at practice.

The following year, as a sophomore, Merryman's name was engraved on two more plaques at the Sarni Tennis Center. The team voted her most improved player as well as most valuable player in 2002.

However, statistics and accolades far from summarize what Merryman brings to the table each week. Her teammates say the work ethic put forth by Merryman provides an example that they strive to match.

"She's a hard worker and good role model," senior Judy Wang says. "It's not surprising at all that she wins as much as she does. You know she is going to give it her all every time."

Like Merryman, moving far from home and being the lone player in her class, freshman Lindsay Downing looks up to her teammate as a leader and a friend.

"She took me under her wing and showed me the ropes," Downing says. "She's the only junior and I'm the only freshman. Her demeanor and drive on the court are inspiring."

All of her teammates describe Merryman as a fun-loving, outgoing person off of the court.

What has become known as Merryman's "J-Lo dance" is a team favorite at practice. Imitating popular music star Jennifer Lopez, Merryman bobs her head, shakes her hips and sings amidst the laughter of her teammates.

"Leigh Ann has a little bit of Colombian in her and it comes out in her J-Lo dance," Downing says.

Last Friday, two years after her defining match against Indiana, Merryman and the women's tennis team met the Hoosiers again.

*****

It's March 28, 2003.

The team's match is already won but Merryman's is one of only two singles matches still in play.

She is behind for most of the contest, but remains poised. Knees bent, both hands gripping the racquet, her eyes fixed across the net on her opponent who is about to serve. Merryman exchanges points and goes up by one. She pumps her fist and yells, "Let's go State!" Her teammates respond, "Right here L-A!"

This time there's not much pressure; there isn't a match on the line. But this time, just like the first, the same focus and determination are delivered in every shot Merryman drives over the net. The third set isn't necessary, as Merryman downs her opponent in the first two.

"Tennis is about who wants it more," Merryman said. "When I'm out on the court, I have that drive."

She often attributes her success to a confident mentality rather than a high skill level.

"When you're at this level, you have to know your weaknesses and make [opponents] play into your strengths," she says.

Her career began at the age of eight, when her father built a tennis court for her brother in the backyard of their southern California home.

"I was always out on the court," Merryman says. "Tennis was a big part of my life."

With inspiration from her brother and the support of her parents, Merryman earned the Southern California's juniors tennis No. 10 ranking. Later, she earned a national ranking at No. 111. And in high school, she was named a four-time most valuable player of her team.

Looking for a change in environment and a chance to play at an athletically competitive university, Merryman wrote a letter to Penn State's athletic department and was subsequently recruited by Baker.

She said that the move so far from home was initially difficult but is now happy to be here.

"I've been made into a stronger person," Merryman says, "and I'm playing at a whole new level in tennis."

Her personal goals are to make the All Big-Ten team and the All-American team. And for her team, Merryman hopes to lead them to a Big Ten title and into the NCAA tournament.

Regardless of her future in tennis, she believes that her determination will persist throughout her life.

"I really do believe that you can do anything you set your mind to if you're willing to work for it," she says.

For her team, Merryman's contributions in tennis and as a friend don't go unnoticed. Team unity through friendship has been a unique trend this year.

On and off the court, Merryman will continue to amaze and amuse her team for one more season.

"Still, none of us have figured out how she moves like that," Downing says. Maybe even J-Lo would be impressed."