GROVE CITY — The difference between Emily Gordon of a year ago and the Emily Gordon of now is quite startling.

The Grove City High sophomore tennis player has elevated her game. Her serve is a weapon. Her back and forehand smashes are tough to deal with and her mental approach is unshakable.

“If she could play herself from last year,” said Grove City girls tennis coach Jared Henshaw, “she'd wipe the court with herself.”

Not that Gordon was a slouch last season. As a freshman, she became the first Mercer County girls tennis player since 2003 to win a District 10 title.

She repeated as Class AA champion last week with a dominating 6-1, 6-0 victory over Caitlyn Schultz of Mercyhurst Prep.

“It was a pretty big honor again,” said Gordon, who was the No. 1 seed in the tournament but had to run a gauntlet of Mercyhurst's top three singles players to win the title. “I had a pretty tough draw having to play all three Mercyhurst girls, but it really made the win a lot sweeter to have the toughest draw going through the tournament.”

That's where the unflappable Gordon shined.

“She came out on top and kept her head and played focused tennis,” Henshaw said. “Every time she had to be focused. Those are tough players she played.”

And Gordon didn't lose a set.

Now Gordon will be paired in the first round of the PIAA Class AA tournament, which begins in Hershey Nov. 6, against the foe who beat her there last season.

Gordon had to retire in the third set of her match at the PIAA tournament against Wilson's Tyra Ott because of an ankle injury.

Gordon won the first set against Ott, turned her ankle and lost the second set and was down 3-0 in the third set when her swollen and painful ankle wouldn't allow her to continue.

Ott went on to win the state title.

“It's a lot of motivation,” Gordon said. “She won states last year, so I know it's going to be a very tough match.”

Gordon is a workaholic when it comes to tennis.

She began playing at the age of 6 and said she picked it up quickly.

“I really found it came naturally to me,” Gordon said. “By the time I was 10 or 11, I started taking lessons.”

By the time she entered high school, she was already a force and as a sophomore she has become an even more well-rounded player.

She spent six hours a day, three or four times a week, this summer playing at Alpha Tennis and Fitness of Pittsburgh in Harmarville.

Even during this season, she traveled to the club to hone her skills three times a week.

“I have really good coaches and a supportive family,” Gordon said. “The support system is really what helps me get through it all.”

Her biggest asset this year has been her serve. At times, it has been downright unreturnable.

“I don't think she lost her serve once in the district tournament,” Henshaw said. “She's able to control it. She's able to flatten it out. She's able to put a lot of spin on it. She doesn't just do the same serve every time.”

Gordon is quite proud of her serve.

“I've tried to get it to be a weapon,” Gordon said. “I was able to make it that at districts.”

Gordon said she is well aware she will need every weapon in her arsenal at the state tournament.

Her goal beyond high school is to play at the Division I level in college.

“I'm going to have to work very hard to get there,” Gordon said.

Henshaw said that shouldn't be a problem.

“Who knows what the limit is for her,” Henshaw said. “She's only a sophomore and she keeps getting better.”