Truluck proves unbeatable in second year with Myrtle Beach tennis team

Elizabeth Truluck had a fantastic debut with the Myrtle Beach girls tennis team.

She didn’t disappoint when it came to making sure the encore was just as good.

Truluck, the Toast of the Coast Girls Tennis Player of the Year, was undefeated during her sophomore season with the Seahawks, helping Jeri Himmelsbach’s squad win a second consecutive Class AAA state title.

“Last year, that was a big win. There are really high expectations, not just for me, but for the whole team,” Truluck said. “To know that a lot of people are counting on me, that’s a lot of pressure. I was able to deal with it well and play my game.”

Was she ever.

At No. 1 singles, Truluck was 14-0 in the fall. She also teamed up with Emma Springs on rare occasions at No. 1 doubles, where the duo was also perfect at 7-0. Many of those wins came when the team needed it most.

After being named the Region VII-AAA Player of the Year for the second straight season, Truluck and the Seahawks entered the postseason as a No. 1 seed after winning the region title, and their dominance only continued.

After a first-round bye, Myrtle Beach made quick work of Berkeley, Hartsville and Hilton Head, losing only one match throughout the Lower State bracket. Then, against A.C. Flora in the state finals, it was more of the same. The Seahawks won 5-1 and brought another trophy home from Columbia.

While the team had success in the handful of matches Truluck was unable to play in over the course of the regular season, it made Myrtle Beach that much stronger when she was.

“She’s just a tremendously talented player. She’s just a blessing to have on the team,” fifth-year coach Jeri Himmelsbach said. “All the girls have gotten stronger, too. Elizabeth is so gifted. I knew she was solid.”

In a sport where individual tournaments tend to be more of the focus, Truluck certainly qualifies as a player who may not have been expected to compete for the high school. But after getting a taste of it last year, she said she intends to continue throughout graduation.

If so, that could mean extended success.

“We’re the team up top, so people are going to be looking for us next year,” Himmelsbach said. “I think we’ll be around for a little while.”

Much of that belief is tied to Truluck. Over two seasons, she’s a combined 49-4, with three of those losses coming during the state singles tournament. She’s earned all-state honors both years, and she’s expected to again be one of South Carolina’s best next year, too.

Amid the individual success, she’s also finding satisfaction donning the Myrtle Beach colors.

“I didn’t know what to expect because I’ve never been on a team. It was different,” she said. “I enjoyed it, and I think that’s what helped me do well. Tennis is part of my life. It was definitely my goal to help the team as much as I could.”

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 4:19 PM with the headline "Truluck proves unbeatable in second year with Myrtle Beach tennis team."