Local Girl Goes 117--0

A tennis ace who chose public school over private academies caps a perfect career

IT WAS a rare close call for Cameron Hubbs. The senior from Omaha's Westside High was down 5--4 to Millard North's Karma Parbhu and facing set point during the Nebraska Class A final last Friday. Parbhu was on the verge of something big: Hubbs had never lost a set in high school. "I was kind of happy I was being challenged that hard," said Hubbs, who naturally won the point, set and match to complete her career with a 117--0 record.

Instead of enrolling in a tennis academy, Hubbs decided to stay with her friends and family. Nick Bollettieri's loss was Westside's gain—Hubbs's win over Parbhu clinched the school's third state title in four years. After the match Hubbs, who is headed to Ohio State next year, was mobbed by teammates as she hugged her parents. It was the kind of moment she had stayed home for.

PHOTO

JOE LOUDON (HUBBS)