That, as it turns out, was just a gem in her crown of achievements. The Vanderbilt junior is ranked No. 13 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in women's singles and 39th in doubles with partner Annie Menees.

The Commodores were to make a 10th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, hosting IUPUI in a regional Saturday. Falk is instrumental in leading Vandy, the nation's No. 3 team.

"I'm such a different player now, I think from playing with seven unbelievable players every day," Falk said.

She started at the bottom level of the singles lineup as a freshman, moved to its middle as a sophomore - which she capped with first-team, All-Southeastern Conference honors in doubles - and impressed coach Geoff Macdonald so much that she earned the No. 1 singles slot this year.

"I think her technique - especially her backhand - has got to be one of the best I've seen in my life," Macdonald said.

Falk earned the No. 1 position based on her fall season, individual progress throughout the year and work ethic.

"When you're looking for someone for first singles, you have to have someone who can play other teams' best players day in and day out. Audra really turned the corner in March and has done a great job," Macdonald said.

Falk is 27-9 at singles and 34-6 at doubles with two partners. The most frustrating match was at the SEC Championships against Florida on April 19. Falk was tied with the country's then-No. 1 player, Alexis Gordon, in the third set when the match was decided 4-0 in favor of Florida.

"It was really hot, and we were battling back and forth. Then they called it off," Falk said.

One of the hardest aspects of college life has been coming home to a place that isn't Cincinnati. Falk's family moved to Mt. Gilead, near Columbus, two summers ago.

Along with Vandy teammate Aleke Tsoubabanos, Falk traveled last summer throughout the country on a monthlong tour. The satellite tournaments paid out $10,000, although neither player was eligible as an amateur. She's happy at school and has no intentions of relinquishing her No. 1 role at Vanderbilt.

"I feel more than ever that my teammates are looking up to me, so I need to portray myself in a positive way and step up as a role model and leader," Falk said.

Others

• Kenyon College softball players Ashley Morrison (Ursuline), a freshman pitcher-first baseball, and Sara Schoenhoft (Ursuline), a freshman catcher, were selected to the All-North Coast Athletic Conference first team. Morrison also was named Newcomer of the Year.

• Northern Kentucky University's Derrick Moeves (Highlands) was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year by the coaches. The sophomore right-hander has a 7-3 record with a 1.50 earned run average. He owned a Norse single-season-record 98 strikeouts entering the NCAA Division II Tournament.

• Robert Santerre (La Salle) carded rounds of 82 and tied a career low with a 73 on the second day to finish fifth individually and lead Baldwin-Wallace College to a second-place team finish at the 2004 Ohio Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championships. Santerre earned All-OAC accolades.

• Tufts senior baseball player Randy Newsom (St. Xavier) was named first-team All-New England Small College Athletic Conference, and teammate Matt Clement (Norwood) earned second-team honors.

• Thomas More softball players Stephanie Frondorf (East Central) and Shannon Heekin (Kings) were named to the 2004 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-Central Region first and second team.

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E-mail srussell@enquirer.com