Tennis is a big part of where she’s at now, but Valparaiso senior Alexis Orlich plans a career in pediatric dentistry in the future.

Orlich, who’s been accepted into the University of Iowa’s dental school, wants to eventually help youngsters maintain good oral health and improve their smiles.

“I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field, and I love dentistry,” said Orlich, who sports a 4.0 GPA and scored 30 on her ACT.

Orlich’s cousin, Dr. Amy Carrico, is a dentist in Owensboro, Ky. She gave Orlich the opportunity to shadow her at her job and experience firsthand what a career in dentistry would be like.

Alexis Orlich’s interest in specializing in pediatric dentistry was sparked by a heartwarming relationship.

“I had the opportunity to nanny a 12-year-old child with Down syndrome,” Orlich said. “It was very special, and it was something I really enjoyed doing. It made me realize working with and helping children was something I definitely wanted to do.

“All special-needs patients go to pediatric dentists, and I knew I really wanted to work with kids. I’m excited and really looking forward to it because Iowa has an amazing dental program.”

Another intriguing feature for Orlich was Iowa’s outreach.

“My senior year, I’ll have the opportunity to go abroad to a third-world country and spend five weeks each semester working as a dentist,” she said. “It’s almost like having your own dental practice.”

The personable Orlich chose Iowa over Marquette and Wisconsin.

“I was pretty much telling everyone I was going to Marquette, but I went to a football game at Iowa,” she said. “While I was there, I toured the dental school, which was absolutely amazing. I knew it was where I wanted to be.”

Orlich, who plays No. 1 singles, also is happy helping Valparaiso make a postseason run.

She couldn’t help but flash a huge smile after upsetting Chesterton’s Hannah Nabhan in the championship match of the Portage Sectional.

It marked her first-ever win over Chesterton’s ace and allowed Valparaiso to win its first sectional title since 2014 and the 23rd overall.

“We have very similar styles, and we’re close friends, but until that match, I wasn’t ever able to pull through against her at certain points when I needed to,” Orlich said of Nabhan. “They beat us earlier this season, so we really wanted to win.

“I really wanted to win, to help take pressure off the team. It was a matter of just focusing on the important points and playing with more confidence. To get a good win like that, I can’t tell you how good it feels. It’s a moment I will probably never forget.’”

It’s a moment Valparaiso coach Tim Shideler won’t likely forget, either.

“I knew she could do it,” he said. “From the time she got on the bus, she was all businesslike and focused. It’s one of the best matches she’s ever played, and she’s been playing more and more consistently.”

Orlich carries a three-match winning streak into Tuesday’s LaPorte Regional, where the Vikings (14-4) play Penn (17-4) and the host Slicers (18-1) meet South Bend St. Joseph (16-3).

Munster (16-0) meets Hobart (11-8) at the Highland Regional, while Crown Point (15-2) plays Whiting (15-1).

Orlich (12-9) has treated every postseason match the same, which seems to have helped a lot.

Despite a torn labrum in her right shoulder, which she’s played with since last season, she’s still managing to win.

She takes cortisone shots when needed to deal with the pain and uses kinesiology tape to provide stability and support.

“I can’t really think about it,” Orlich said. “The shoulder really wasn’t at its best and was sore in the sectional, since the matches are closer together. I had to think and play like it was at its best, so I could play like I was at my best.”

John O’Malley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.