ONEONTA _ Oneonta High senior Jess McCue doesn't need the qualifier.
You've probably heard those three words sometimes used to describe a female athlete, as in: "She's good ... for a girl."
Life in Southern Tier Athletic Conference boys tennis the past four springs has included McCue.
This year, much more often than not, McCue has played the role of Billie Jean King to her counterparts' Bobby Riggs.
As the only girl playing singles in the STAC, she has a 10-3 record heading into sectionals.
Asked if McCue belonged in a top-10 list of STAC Central and East Division players this season, Maine-Endwell coach Ed Lamoureux said: "She'd be top 10 in that group. She's consistent and can hit any shot. She lobs and she hits passing shots, too. She's accurate. I wouldn't say it's super power, but she does have a little bit of it. I think her accuracy makes her the player she is."
Nine teams play tennis in the STAC's East and Central divisions. With four singles players per team and the likelihood of a few lineup changes throughout a season, there are probably 40 to 50 boys who've played singles matches this season.
Assuming Lamoureux is right and McCue is among the 10 best, that's elite company, regardless of gender.
"She'd easily make the top 10 players," OHS coach Phyllis Orlowski said of McCue, a fixture at second singles all season. "She plays smart, has a fantastic serve and plays sophisticated tennis."
Most girls tennis players compete during the fall, when McCue played for a Yellowjackets soccer team that won the STAC Central. OHS does not have a girls tennis team, meaning the only time McCue can play her favorite sport is in the spring.
Truth be told, McCue said she prefers to play against boys.
"It's probably more enjoyable playing against the guys," McCue said, "just because I really don't know any different. I play USTA (United States Tennis Association) tournaments against girls and that's fun, but it's very serious, so it's not like you just out there and joke around.
"When I play in Binghamton every Sunday, I play against boys," she continued. "I don't really know what it's like to play against girls. I just think (girls) hit a different ball than I do and play with a lot more patience. I grew up playing against guys, so I just like to cream it."
That's exactly what McCue did against M-E's Josh Gumaer on May 1 at Wilber Park.
She beat the Spartans sophomore, 6-0, 6-3, and basically overpowered him. Her groundstrokes, particularly from the forehand side, traveled with pace and often resulted in winners or weak returns from Gumaer.
"I just played as best I could," said Gumaer, who normally plays exhibition matches but was pressed into service when two M-E starters missed the match because of illness. "She kept hitting to my backhand and I couldn't get to those, or if I did it, was hard for me to get to her next shot because she'd just spike it."
That match also showed McCue's competitive side. Though the outcome was never in doubt, her reaction after playing a soft point showed McCue, the perfectionist.
If she netted a half-volley or sent a forehand beyond the baseline, it was accompanied by a sarcastic smile or a frustrated groan.
"I've gotten a lot better," McCue said of her temper. "When I was younger, I would lose my cool and then it would just be over. My mom put an end to that. She'd say that racquet costs hundreds of dollars, so now I just flip it or toss it. One of my coaches always says, Don't let one mistake become two. Stay calm.'"
Her competitiveness _ "My Irish temper" as she refers to it _ has served her well when opponents did not make her feel welcome.
"I've been told a couple times that girls shouldn't be playing on the boys team," McCue said. "It's because they don't want to lose. People cheat against me, but you just have to shake it off. Eventually, they'll look back and think, I cheated a girl in the 10th grade and I'm not very proud of it now.'"
In past seasons, McCue even said she's had verbal exchanges with her opposition.
"The guys say things and when I have a better comeback, they don't like that," she said. "My mom always says, Let the school board (which allowed her to play boys tennis) speak for you.' I try to keep my cool."
This being her fourth year in the conference, McCue said: "Most of the guys know me. They don't really bug me too much anymore."
Added Lamoureux: "She's going to be a tough person to play and everybody knows that going in. She'd probably end up winning some matches at No. 1 singles."
Junior Luke Mancuso, Oneonta's third singles player, taught tennis this summer with McCue at the Oneonta Tennis Club. He said he doesn't see McCue as a girl tennis player but merely a tennis player, and one he'd like to play.
"She's been playing for a long time and she's good," Mancuso said. "I've just gotten used to the fact she's a good player. I think I'm just as good. I've never officially played a match against her, but I think we're pretty close."
Though McCue played three years of varsity soccer and earned all-STAC Central Division honors this past season as a midfielder, she said tennis is her No. 1 athletic love and the sport she'll play for William Smith College in the fall.
"It's just you out there and it builds your mental toughness and rounds you as a person," McCue said. "I just realized this sport has more to offer me. Soccer is a great sport, but tennis is where my heart is.
"I guess I just like the competitiveness of being out there by yourself and knowing every mistake you make is your mistake and every point you win is your point," she continued. "You don't have teammates to say, Why did you miss that ball?' It's completely up to you whether you win or lose."
That won't be the case for the upcoming Section Four Class B Tournament. McCue will team with OHS first singles player Riley Lorenz in doubles when the sectional tournament begins Thursday at Owego.
"They're going to be a really strong team," said Orlowski, adding she thinks McCue and Lorenz have a shot of qualifying for the state meet.
McCue said she selected Division III William Smith even after being offered an athletic scholarship to play for Division II Bloomsburg University. She will receive scholarship money at William Smith, but it will come for her work in the classroom.
"It's such a good school and it's only three hours away, so I can come back," she said. "My brother (Kyle, who plays doubles for OHS) is still here and we're really close."
As for playing against women, McCue said: "I'm excited for that. This summer I plan to play in a lot of USTA events just to get my girl intensity up and play among my own gender."
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Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.
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