The net effect

LAKEWOOD RANCH — It's a different world for Ashley Bongart, something she recognizes every time she opens her closet.

“I have learned to love orange,” said Bongart, who accepted a tennis scholarship at the University of Tennessee after she won singles and doubles state championships at Lakewood Ranch High School. "I bleed orange. It has definitely worn on me. You have to like it because you see it everywhere.” 

On Nov. 13-14, Bongart returned to her former world of green and silver, which are Lakewood Ranch's colors. Her Volunteers squad was competing in the 2015 Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic at the Lakewood Ranch Tennis Center.

She grew up learning to play on those courts, but now would need to face some of the nation's most talented players.

Besides the competition, Bongart was returning to the area where she made her name as a high school tennis star.

She knew she would be the focus the minute her plane touched down at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. 

When she walked to the middle of center court before her first-round match, she gave herself a little time to revel in the moment.

Here she was, on the same courts where she spent the past 10 years training and developing her game, and she was representing a major university.

Her parents, Ed and Melissa Bongart, were in attendance, watching their daughter win her opening round singles match 6-1, 7-5 over South Florida’s Hailey Grillo. It was the first time Bongart's parents had seen her play a collegiate tournament together and the first time Melissa Bongart had seen her daughter play since Bongart left for Tennessee in August. 

“It was nice to be able to play on (center court),” Bongart said. “And it felt really good to be able to see my family. They helped me get to where I am right now.” 

Bongart eventually lost 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals to the University of Florida’s Spencer Liang. 

She combined with Tennessee teammate Sadie Hammond to beat South Florida's Grillo and Juliana Cardosa 8-1 but the Volunteer duo lost in the next round. 

The Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic served as the final stop on Tennessee’s fall tennis tournament schedule. 

While experiencing mixed results on the court, Bongart completely enjoyed her homecoming away from the tennis center. She guided her teammates around her hometown and was planning a quick trip to Siesta Key Beach. Rather than staying in her own bed at home, Bongart opted to stay with her team at the home of Lakewood Ranch residents Kip and Angela Radigan, who were hosting the Volunteers. 

“It’s been really nice,” Bongart said. “It’s a team event and my parents realized that it is a tournament and I needed to stay with my teammates.” 

It was a fitting end to the fall season for Bongart, who has worked on developing her game. She is concentrating on her mental toughness and aggressiveness. 

“It’s been awesome,” Bongart said. “Everything I thought I wanted, it’s been. There’s more pressure when you’re playing for a team because you’re not just competing for yourself. It’s more stressful, but definitely more fun. 

“Everywhere you go, people will say ‘Go Vols,’ The energy is a lot better in college tennis. I really love the energy.” 

In her first full season with Tennessee, Bongart has rotated between the No. 1 and No. 3 singles spots. Although she won multiple state championships at Lakewood Ranch, most of her teammates have impressive credentials from high school as well.

“Everyone here is the best in their area,” she said. “Everyone on my team was the best player at her high school. I don’t think I’ve had an easy match yet. It’s definitely a lot more competitive, but it’s been good.” 

Bongart, who is one of five freshmen on the Volunteers' roster, spent the fall working with her teammates and coaches to become a more physical player on the court with a particular emphasis on staying engaged throughout each point. 

“Ashley is one of many freshmen who have added a lot to our program,” Tennessee coach Mike Patrick said. “It’s unique to have so many, but all five freshmen have mixed well together and grow together and develop.

“Ashley was a good player when she got here,” Patrick said. “We’re just trying to get her to become a lot more physical, and she’s buying into it.” 

Unlike in previous years, when Bongart’s training consisted of private lessons and junior tournaments, Bongart’s training at Tennessee is centered around the team.  

“That’s part of the reason that I’m hitting better,” Bongart said. “Growing up, there wasn’t a lot of people in the area to hit with, but here there’s always competition.” 

Bongart practices six days a week for two hours with her teammates and also attends two private lessons a week. She and her teammates also complete an hour fitness program every week. 

In addition, she is studying communications with the possibility of going into sports broadcasting and she had five classes on her plate this fall. 

“When you wake up a 7 a.m. and don’t sit down again until 10 p.m. and you do that for six days straight, it’s absolutely exhausting,” Bongart said. “It’s definitely tough, but you get used to it.” 

Bongart and Hammond room together in the freshman dorm and the rest of her first-year teammates are down the hall. When they aren’t practicing, the girls spend time together studying or going to dinner, which has helped Bongart adjusted to being away from home. 

“We’re more like family and sisters,” Bongart said. “We’re going to be together for the next four years, so we had better like each other. They are all really good girls, and it’s nice to have a lot of people around you that are going through the same things at the same time.”