SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Avery Spector is leading the St. Francis tennis team to a special season behind her strong play at the top singles position. The Troubadours improved to 11-1 on the season after a 9-0 win over Sheldon Monday.

“It has been really good this year,” said Avery. “The spirit is great and everyone is pushing from No. 1 to 18.”

Spector has a 10-1 record on the season, establishing a new single-season dual match win total after winning nine dual matches as a junior and eight as a sophomore. She has played at the No. 1 position for each of the last three seasons.

“I feel like just yesterday I was worried about making the team as a freshman,” recalled Avery. “Now it is has been four seasons, four really good seasons. I remember complaining to my sister that I was not going to make the team.”

She is a three-time all-league choice and is in position to earn the award again this season.

“Avery has played all four years and been a great asset to the team,” said Head Coach Kristi Spector, who has the pleasure of coaching her daughter. “She is in her second year as a captain and she really leads by example. She is at every practice and every match. She brings every one up and I am going to miss her next year.”

Avery is a two-sport standout, also playing for the state-ranked St. Francis soccer team. She has helped the team to a section title as a sophomore and runner-up finish last season. She loves to stay busy.

“I work best when I am stressed and going from one thing to the next,” said Avery. “But it is important to make sure I get some down time to catch up on some TV and put my legs up. I feel like I would not be doing as good in all the aspects of life if I wasn’t as busy.”

The elder Spector took over coaching the tennis team three years ago, leading the team to two straight Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearances in her first two seasons. But 2015 looks to be her best effort to date with her daughter leading the way.

“I can’t put it into words,” said Kristi. “I get to spend two plus hours every day after school with her and it is time I probably would not have because she would be busy doing something else. It is time that has gone so quickly and I can’t get back. I treasure every single moment.”

Avery admits there was an adjustment to having her mom as the tennis coach. Avery’s older sister, Kendall, also played for the team in 2013. Assistant coach Camille Benvenuti handles the on-court coaching during the match for Avery.

“It has been really great,” said Avery. “It has been hard some times to get away from tennis. It comes home with you. But she is less my coach and more my mom. She lets Camille do the coaching which is nice. It has been more time to be with her. She is my mom and my best friend, so why not make her my coach.”

Kristi agrees it is not always easy with both roles.

“There are times it is hard being the mom and the coach,” said Kristi. “But I would not change it for anything.”

The Spectors are putting together a good run this season. The Troubadours are 8-1 in league play with the lone loss coming against Franklin 5-4. They have a rematch on Wednesday at Laguna Creek Racquet Club with the league title on the line.

For Avery, the Franklin match gives her a chance to take on sophomore Jacquie Tan, a nationally-ranked player, who handed her a loss last time and defeated her in the Delta League individual championship in 2014.

“Last time I got too nervous and being the underdog I just have to go for it against her and that will give me the best scores possible.”

The Troubadours will benefit from a full lineup against Franklin after missing one of their singles players last time and the addition of transfer Macy Wood to the doubles lineup.

“As long as we can play the way that we did last time, I think those two additional players will make a difference,” said Avery.

With the strong record this season, the team would also improve their postseason seeding and tie for the Delta League lead with two matches left on the schedule. Tiebreakers would determine the league champion.

“I need to be sure the girls know at the end of the day it is just tennis,” said Spector. “It is a big match and our biggest of the season. As long as they go out and play to the best of their ability, win or lose I am going to be proud of them.”

Spoken like a supportive mom and coach.

St. Francis 9, Sheldon 0

Singles

1. Avery Spector, SF, def. Krista Le, S, 6-0, 6-2

2. Abby Benvenuti, SF, def. Cherry Lin, S, 6-1, 6-2

3. Annie Gianulias, SF, def. Dien Nguyen, S, 6-0, 6-0

4. Macy Wood, SF, def. Serina Feng, S, 6-0, 6-3

5. Sabrina Voeller, SF, def. Naratha Nguyen, 6-0, 6-0

6. Cameron Parra, SF, def. Lisa Sedgwick, S, 6-0, 7-5 

Doubles

1. Megan Kahn/Eden Elliott, SF, def. Denisse Nevarez/Ria Ramchandani, S, 6-1, 6-1

2. Izzy Samuel/Stephanie Fong, SF, def. Theresa Nguyen/Kelly Le, S, 6-2, 6-1

3. Cece Crowley/Sarah Morris, SF, def. Hang Le/Kelly Nguyen, S, 6-3, 6-4