When Newport senior Angela Chen talks about last season, she can’t hide her smile for long.

While the Knights were busy winning the 4A state team championship on the boys side, Chen and good friend Aime Vo stormed through the girls bracket to capture the doubles title with three 2-0 wins.

Third-place finishes during her first two state tournaments and an injury that derailed part of her sophomore season made the win that much sweeter.

“The season was awesome,” Chen said. “With the guys there winning state, the energy was amazing the whole tournament.”

If Chen hopes to again hoist a trophy in the Tri-Cities, she will do it without a partner after assuming the number one singles spot for new coach Ryan Pang and the Knights.

Pang, a standout during his own prep days at Mercer Island and player at Santa Clara University, coached high school tennis in California after college and has worked with Chen and a host of the Eastside’s other top players for a number of years as a private instructor on Mercer Island. He said while all of them possess talent, Chen’s demeanor on the court separates her and provides a distinct edge.

“Most girls, even experienced players, they get so nervous,” Pang said. “Angela is a straight line the whole way and if she needs to turn it on, she can.”

So far in 2013, there has been little need for that.

Chen boasts a perfect record on the season and has yet to even drop a single set in any of her victories. Even with defending champion Sammi Hampton of Skyview returning for another shot at the state’s top prize, Pang said Chen has a realistic shot at capturing another title, this time in singles.

From the first time he met her nearly seven years ago, Pang knew he had something special.

“She was 12 playing against 16-year-olds,” he said. “She was ripping the ball side to side, hitting winners. I was thinking she could probably beat me.”

Now, with top-three state finishes in each of her seasons on the prep court and a host of USTA and amateur accolades to her credit, Chen is ready for her final act in the storied Newport program.

She said during her first three years, much of the focus at practice was on creating a team atmosphere, with little work on the technical aspects of the game like specific shots and court coverage.

With the addition of Pang, one of the most respected instructors in the area, she has found herself becoming an even more aware player.

“It is great we have a coach with a lot of experience not just coaching but playing,” Chen said. “He really knows what he is doing helping us with strokes and strategy.”

While club tournaments and USTA events groomed her as a top-level player throughout her youth, Chen said it was the collective atmosphere of the high school team that has allowed her to enjoy the game most.

“I just realized I really work better with a team, with people cheering for me and me having the chance to cheer for them,” she said. “I really like that aspect of it.”

Contact and submissions: jsuman@bellevuereporter.com