DELAWARE — Ever since Soleil Cordell stepped on the tennis court for Olentangy Berlin, she’s been one of the best in the state.
Last year, she solidified that by becoming the first athlete at Berlin to win a state championship when she won the Division I title. This year, the senior is focused on getting even better.
One thing is for sure – Cordell is having a lot of fun with the process.
“I think tennis is the best sport for me because I get to work on being my best self every day,” Cordell said. “I just really enjoy it.”
Cordell is 9-0 this season after Berlin’s 5-0 victory over Hilliard Davidson on Sept. 9, defeating all her opponents in straight sets.
She’s given up just nine points in those matches, with the closest margin coming in a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Olentangy Orange’s Aaria Gala on Aug. 24.
Cordell won five matches by 6-0, 6-0 scores and three more giving up just one point.
The Bears are 9-1 overall and 1-0 in OCC-Cardinal Division play heading into their league match at Dublin Jerome on Sept. 10.
Soleil Cordell during her match against Hilliard Davidson on Sept. 9. Story continues below.
“She’s always had the ability (and) all-around game,” Bears coach Richard Hunt said. “But just the ability to play long points and at the same time hit higher quality winners — that has continued to grow and grow.”
Cordell played soccer and danced when she was younger. But nothing fit quite like tennis.
“I decided to stick with tennis because it better fit my competitive nature,” she said.
As a freshman, Cordell went 22-5 and was district runner-up before going 1-1 at state. She improved to 29-4 as a sophomore and again was district runner-up.
At state that year, she won three matches before falling to Mason’s Addison Cassidy 6-0, 6-1 in the final.
After winning the district title as a junior, she rolled through her first two matches in straight sets at state before defeating Cassidy in three sets in the semifinal.
Cordell beat Hudson’s Emma Liu 6-2, 6-4 for the championship.
“She’s very skilled but she’s going to fight for every point,” Hunt said. “I think she’s grown with her overall game and has the ability to do just about everything.”
Cordell is committed to play at the University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and one day wants to be a physician’s assistant.
“I want to help people,” she said.
Hunt admires the time she spends helping her teammates. Sophomore Anaiya Jaiswal is 8-2 overall, mostly in second singles, and senior Berkeley Wallace 9-1 overall, mostly out of third singles for the Bears.
“I have friends on the team that have supported me on and off the court,” Cordell said. “I’ve been friends with some of the girls before they even started playing. So, it’s just really nice to have like a little family around this game.”
Cordell isn’t trying to change too much in her mental approach.
“I played a lot of tournaments year-round,” Cordell said. “So, I’m just going into this year with the same mindset of treating (it) like it was just another tournament.
“I’ve had a lot of fun with the USTA tournaments and I’m just going to go with the same mindset — just ready to play.”
