The best girls tennis player in the Lancaster-Lebanon League this fall doesn't play in the Lancaster-Lebanon League.

What?

Defending state Class AA singles champion Julia Casselbury is without peer.

"She's in a class by herself," says Hempfield coach Whit Evans.

"Absolutely," concurs his assistant, Lani Ward.

And, Casselbury plays for a school that is by itself when it comes to league affiliation: Lancaster Country Day.

Which, in the world of competitive scholastic tennis, isn't such a bad thing. especially when Country Day is welcomed into the L-L post-season fraternity.

Playing her first season of varsity tennis as a sophomore — she missed her freshman year with a wrist injury — Casselbury swept the L-L, District Three and PIAA AA titles last year.

"I don't think anyone got a set off of her," observed Manheim Township coach Doug Pennington.

What many, including Casselbury, did not know was, she played the entire states weekend with a back injury.

"She was in a lot of pain the whole tournament," said her coach, Jim Phipps.

"I think it was a stress fracture," she said, recalling the experience. "I took four months off (after states). I didn't play at all, and I had to wear a back brace 24/7."

When Pennington learned of Casselbury's injury he recalled thinking, "How good would she be if she felt well?"

We are about to find out.

With the graduation of Lancaster Christian's Leah Rutt — who played for McCaskey through a co-operative agreement — and Hempfield's Chelsie Yacks, Casselbury stands atop the L-L tennis scene.

Overall, she is not alone.

Manheim Township's Lauren Stauffer and Caroline Barry — who have placed third and fourth as doubles partners at the state tournament — and Hempfield's Hannah Pipkin and Mackenzie Smith top the big-school L-L singles scene.

"They have dedicated themselves to playing tennis as their main sport," said Ward. "They play year round, train year round."

But Casselbury is the cream of the small-school crop.

"She's really at a completely different level than most of the kids that we compete with in the smaller schools," said her coach, Jim Phipps.

Quite an accomplishment for the 16-year old Lititz resident, who got her start on the Country Day courts when she was in first grade.

"I started playing when I was 6," she said. "Mr. Phipps was actually my first coach. I don't remember that, but he tells me all about it."

"I had her (in class) in first grade and her mother called me and asked if I had anything for her to do with tennis," said Phipps, who settled in at Country Day after a career as a professional and USTA coach.

"I told her mother, 'Bring her out and I'll hit with her a little bit.' After that first time I told her (Julia) was very, very talented."

And a quick study. "I've coached a lot of people with world rankings," said Phipps. "Guys who have wins over people who are top 150 in the world.

"Julia is just one of the toughest athletes, toughest competitors I've ever coached, at all different levels."

A toughness that proved necessary as Casselbury looked to step up her game over the summer.

"I traveled to California, Florida, Tennessee, playing (Middle States USTA) Under-18," she said, adding, "I probably should've played 16s.

"It was a tough summer for me, coming off the back injury, (but) I got a lot of good match experience."

Which will come in handy this fall.

"I guess I'd love to do as well as I did last year," she considered demurely. "At states, and at districts, and at leagues. Just have a good experience again with the team."

"She's just a great person," said Phipps, appreciating the greatest gift a coach can have.

"She's very kind, smart, and very disciplined. It's really a pleasure having her on our team and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for her."

What's next for the Class AAA Big Four: Pipkin and Smith, Stauffer and Barry?

A fall that will, once again, see them at the forefront of another Hempfield-Manheim Township duel for supremacy in Section One of the L-L, and beyond.

Hempfield has won the L-L League and District Three team titles five of the last six years.

The only team to interrupt that string? Manheim Township, in 2009.

"What a lot of it is," offered Pennington, "there are tennis clubs in (our) districts.

"The East Hempfield Sports Complex and the Racquet Club West is over there. Lancaster Country Club and Bent Creek are here, so those help produce players."

This year the production may favor Township.

"This year we're looking at a rebuilding year," offered Evans. "We graduated seven of our top 10 so ... it's a great opportunity for a lot of younger players coming up."

Pennington notes that both squads had a core group of four-year players. "Theirs were just a little older than us last year," he said. "That senior tenacity was there and they got us.

"This year I think we have a lot of that experience. That's what always makes it exciting. You can't just show up and throw your racquet out there. You have to play to win."

While Township and Hempfield battle it out once more in Section One, Manheim Central will look to defend its Section Two title with Tierny Woglemuth, Alyssa Daniel, Jackie Renninger and Casey Stetler back in the fold.

Expect a challenge from Lancaster Catholic, last year's runnerup, led by Maria Morrison and possibly Elco, paced by Madelyn Shaak.

dbyrne@lnpnews.com