In the offseason, Waterville Senior High School girls tennis coach Jill Cristan keeps it simple. She gives each player one thing to work on, to improve for the following season.

At the end of the 2011 season, Cristan told Colleen O’Donnell, the Purple Panthers’ No. 1 singles player, to work on approaching the net.

“Each year, I give her a goal, and this year it’s footwork,” Cristan said.

Already one of the top high school tennis players in the state, O’Donnell is determined to get even better.

“I think my serve was stronger and I was mentally tougher,” O’Donnell said. “I still have some weak spots I need to work on.”

After helping Waterville win a second consecutive Eastern Class B title, and reaching the quarterfinals of the state singles tournament, O’Donnell has been named the Morning Sentinel Girls Tennis Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

This summer, O’Donnell plans to play more tennis, and is currently attending lessons in Brunswick twice a week.

“I’m playing with a lot of good players,” O’Donnell said. “I think it helps.”

O’Donnell dominated play in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and was seeded eighth in the singles tournament. She reached the quarterfinals, where she lost to top seed and eventual state champion Maisie Silverman of Brunswick, but not before giving Silverman a scare.

Coming off a three-set win over Hampden’s Ashley Woodside, O’Donnell took Silverman to the brink in the first set, before falling, 7-5.

“I thought I played pretty well,” O’Donnell said. “Going into it, I said ‘I have nothing to lose.’ “

Added Cristan: “She’s definitely more confident.”

Recently, O’Donnell decided to give up soccer and focus on tennis in the fall.

“I decided I wasn’t getting much better at tennis, and I wanted to,” she said.

O’Donnell is pushed to improve when she plays top-notch competition, Cristan said, and that was apparent with her effort in the singles tournament.

“She’s dedicating more time to tennis,” Cristan said. “She’s playing right now.”

O’Donnell has a list of things she wants to improve. Being at the net. Handling overhead shots. Her approach shots tend to go long. And of course, there’s the footwork.

“Sometimes I tend to take longer steps when I should be taking short, choppy steps,” O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell is the Panthers’ leader, often hitting with less experienced players at practice, Cristan said.

With O’Donnell, Olivia Lopes and Jayme Saulter all returning as juniors next year, the Panthers singles players remain intact. Waterville will be the favorite to win the Eastern B title, and go to the state match for the third straight year.

“I think we’ll be stronger,” O’Donnell said.

“If you want to get that state title, you have to work now,” Cristan said, “and she is.”

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

[email protected]