Loyola's Hardman rediscovers game

When Lee Hardman returned home from Australia last year, hechecked his luggage. The only thing missing was his tennis game.

After recording a 25-3 record as a freshman at Loyola Academy inWinnetka, Hardman moved with his parents to Melbourne for fourmonths. When he resumed high school tennis as a junior, his recorddropped to 20-11.

"He didn't have a good year when he came back," Loyola coach TomFitzgerald said. "I think there were a lot of reasons for it: thelack of consistent competition and the move for a boy his age."

At first, playing on slower surfaces in Australia didn't makethe transition any smoother. But in the end, the experience withclay …