At the completion of her last match this past season, the sun officially set on what could be called the “Masani Francis era.”

In her four years as part of the Pleasant Valley tennis program, Francis not only earned a varsity letter each season, but played impressively and successfully, leaving an indelible mark on the program.

As a senior, she finished with an 11-6 record at the No. 1 singles slot. She also reached the quarterfinals of the District 11 Class 3A Doubles Tournament with her partner, Haley White.

For these accomplishments, along with the overall impression she left on the team, Francis was named the 2017 Times News Tennis Player of the Year.

Over the course of her four seasons, Francis never settled as she persistently worked to improve her game.

“This past season, I tried to improve my serves the most. I also work on playing more consistently for each match,” she said. “I tried to bring some intensity to every match that I played.

“The most important thing, for me was to never give up on a point, a set, or a match.”

Francis possesses a wealth of athletic ability, combining her speed, footwork, agility, stamina and deft hand-eye coordination to become a top player in the always competitive Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

She also displayed an outstanding mental approach to the sport — something that is extremely important in tennis.

“The mental approach to tennis is just as important, if not more important, than the physicality of a player,” she said. “I was always pretty good at keeping a level head during a match, but on days that I would have trouble with this, my teammates, coaches and parents were always there to pick me up.”

As the team’s No. 1, Francis needed to prove to her team and coaches that she could be looked at as the team’s best option. She also needed to go out and produce winning tennis against opposing teams’ best players.

“My main tactic in singles play was to try and move my opponent around the court and wear them down,” she said. “Whether it was by hitting the corners, or incorporating some slices and drop shots, I would just take one point at a time, and do my best.”

Her veteran experience and position in the lineup meant the younger players on the team would often look in her direction for guidance, leadership and advice.

“This season, we had several underclassmen that moved up to the varsity level, so as a leader, I would try and help them both physically and mentally,” Francis said. “During or after a match, when my teammates’ heads were down, because they felt they were playing badly, I would try to lift them up. One of the things I stressed was being able to learn from our mistakes, and move on from that.”

When Francis needed a lift, she said the advice and motivation were returned in full.

“I have to thank my coaches and teammates for pushing me every day, especially our second and third singles players, Haley White and Riley Wagner. I was mainly able to play against Haley during practices, and she definitely made me become a better player this season.”

Francis was quick to reflect on what it was like to play for head coach Mark Allison throughout her career.

“It has definitely been a lot of fun,” Francis said. “Coach Allison always has a joke to tell when you needed a break from the tension.

“You could always see his love for the game, and that showed through to all of us. Also, if I ever were to get down on myself during a match, he was able to pick me up and encourage me to do better. Coach Ammerman, our JV coach, was also a big help because she was always giving us tips on how we could improve our game. I’m very grateful for all my coaches for what they have done to make me not only a better player, but a better person as well.”

Francis said her love for the game continued to grow each year during her career.

“Tennis is such a great sport because it can be played for a lifetime,” Francis said. “One can never be too old to play, and it is a great past time and stress reliever. After a long and hard day in school, it was a relief to finally be able to step out on the court.

“In 10 years, when I look back on this past season, as well as my tennis career at Pleasant Valley, I will remember it as a very fun time. I’ve made memories that I will never forget, and some of the closest friends I’ll ever have.”