On a brisk October morning, Cory Smith whizzes serves and zips forehands down the line.

With his eyes glued to the bright yellow ball, he hugs the baseline, shuffling into position to hammer another winner.

This was the scene Monday as the Olympic boys tennis team prepared for the Olympic League Tournament, which begins today. No Trojan has a better chance to win a league title than Smith, a senior.

“It’s my last year, so I obviously want to go out on a high note,” Smith said.

The team’s No. 1 singles player, Smith boasts a season record of 11-1, the lone loss coming a week ago to Micah Roos of Port Angeles on a day Smith called “not my best.”

It’s been a breakout year for the captain, who stepped into the No. 1 singles position for the 2009 season in place of the graduated Justin Hike. Prior to Hike’s graduation, Smith had settled for No. 2.

“In the singles category, I’ve always been the runner-up because of Justin,” Smith said. “I’m hoping to come out on top and be the league champion and make it to districts and hopefully make it to state.”

To do that, Smith needs to finish either first or second at leagues, a more-than-reasonable goal considering his record against the league’s top competition.

Against the No. 1 singles players from the other Class 3A teams in the Olympic League — PA, NK and Bremerton — Smith is 6-1, holding two victories against both An Ho of BHS and Fohn of NK and one victory against Roos of PA.

Each team is allotted three singles entries to the league tournament, but Smith will need to beat at least one No. 1, barring a series of upsets.

“I’ve seen these guys a lot so I know what to prepare for and what to expect,” Smith said.

The postseason hopeful attributes much of his success to playing year-round at the Bremerton Tennis & Athletic Club, where during this past offseason he played four to five days a week, three hours a day.

At the club, Smith said, there is stiff competition, allowing him to improve his own game by learning from the best.

“Playing year round … that’s tough for any sport,” he said. “But I play as much as I can at the club, that’s how you get better.”

The move from No. 1 to No. 2 has posed challenges, but Smith has handled the transition well. At No. 2 in 2008, he consistently won matches in straight sets, often 6-0, 6-0, but this year he’s been forced to work harder for the victories.

“There wasn’t a lot of competition at No. 2 singles,” he said. “This year, there’s been some steady competition. It’s been a lot more of a consistent level of me playing people who are at least somewhat good, if not really good.”

During practice, he hits with No. 2 singles player John Fry, a senior who Smith said provides healthy competition and keeps him on his game.

“He’s been my practice partner,” he said of Fry, who is battling an injury and may not participate in the league tournament. “He may not have been better than me, but at least he was consistent enough to push me to stay at a constant level.”

While the team is just 1-11 overall, most of the players are new to the sport and continue to learn the game. Coach Nate Andrews said Smith has provided the leadership necessary to keep the attitude light and the game fun for the entire team.

“He’s a good teammate, everybody likes him. The chemistry of the group is really good, which I think they like. The group gets along really well and I think Cory is a big reason for that,” Andrews said. “He’s a quite leader — he shows, he doesn’t talk — and I really like that about him.”