Rhoney, from Hickory, N.C., was a year ahead of South Carolina’s Garnett in arriving at UL, and it soon became evident that their talents blended well.

"In the spring of Bret’s freshman year, Gary put us together as a doubles team, and we started to click," Rhoney said. "We had chemistry. You could tell we were going to be good. We were beating other teams badly."

The reason was a perfect blend of talent and temperament.

Garnett, who turned pro a year early after that 1988 season, agreed.

"Ashley never missed a return," Garnett said. "He was probably the best in the country at that. It was easy to be at the net and pick off the little cupcakes. He also loved that, loved when I would hit people. I played with a lot of good partners. He was so steady and returned the ball so well.

"It was just a lot of fun to be one of the best. You’d go to a tournament, and you expected to be in the mix at the end. We went on the court every single time feeling like we would win. And, we were playing against the highest level of competition.

"We had some incredible rivalries with people like Southern Cal and Tennessee. It was like a war. That’s what you play for. We had that ‘us against them’ mentality as a bunch of guys from the South."

Playing from 1985-88, Rhoney compiled a 134-80 record with the Cajuns – 71-48 in singles, 63-32 in doubles. Garnett was 65-39 in singles with three straight 20-win seasons (24-11, 20-13, 21-15) playing mainly against the country’s best atop the order.

Garnett recalled growing as a player on a team with Rhoney and Jay Bailey, another Southern junior champion, among others.

"It was good for me," Garnett said. "I grew up in an area where there weren’t a lot of good players to practice with. Once I got to college, there were six guys who could beat me on any given day. And, we were playing high-level schedule.

"Ashley was really good for me. He was a confident player. I admired his competitiveness. We’d go against UCLA and Stanford and thought we would tear them up. We felt there was nobody we couldn’t beat."

"Bret played No. 5 for us when he started his freshman year, but by the end of the year you could see the transformation happen," Rhoney said. "When he made that jump, that’s probably when I knew we could compete for serious national ranking."

Rhoney’s intensity helped to fuel success. Losing was never part of his plan, certainly not once they attained the No. 1 national ranking.

"When I went on the court, I was paranoid about it," he said. "We were the ones who had the target on our chest. I felt others put me on their dart board. That paranoia came naturally. I would not be satisfied, not be content.

"I may not have enjoyed it as much, but nothing good comes at a high level when you’re content."

Rhoney, whose father was a minor league baseball pitcher, excelled in football, basketball and baseball at a young age. He was a quarterback in football and a point guard in basketball. Then, when his friends became interested in an individual sport like tennis, he found a new direction.

"I had always played positions that were in control," Rhoney said. "I was always thinking about the situation. I was my destiny to play tennis."

By 9th grade, Rhoney was state high school champion material. Typically, that just made him work harder.

"I didn’t change my approach," he said. "I trained with elite players. You could walk away (from a practice) thinking you were not good. I kept my guard up."

As a star junior player in North Carolina, Rhoney wanted to play for the UNC Tar Heels. But the school signed others whom he had bested, and he still has not forgiven the snub.

"That hurt a lot after having the junior career I’d had," Rhoney said. "Once I got to UL, we beat them twice."

In 1987, Rhoney and Garnett reached the semifinals of the prestigious Volvo All-American Tournament, losing to Byron Talbot and Shelby Cannon of Tennessee. In 1988, they reached the finals but got rained out.

"I wish we had played," Rhoney said. "You’d be No. 1 for the year if you won there. We were No. 1 or co-No. 1 for most of the year, and ended up No. 2 after losing in the NCAA quarterfinals."

Garnett decided to leave with Rhoney, Bailey and other seniors after that 1988 season.

"I probably wouldn’t have left if everybody had been there," Garnett said. "But it was four seniors, me, and Curtis Hollinger was a sophomore. Gary (Albertine) was leaving, too. Because of loyalty, I didn’t want to leave. But the decision was made easier.

"Looking back, it was the right time, the right thing to do. But I loved the place (UL) and the people. I met my wife, Cheryl (Broussard) there."

Years later, the former partners are still connected as fellow teaching pros. Fittingly, Garnett is now the pro at Hickory Country Club in Rhoney’s hometown. Rhoney briefly returned to Hickory 10 years ago, but then returned to Lafayette and recommended Garnett for the post.

"It’s a great place to have a family," said Garnett, whose children are ages 14 and 11. "I live 5 miles from  where I work. Again, there’s Ashley looking out for me. I had just quit playing (the pro circuit). It was pretty difficult, but I’m glad I stopped when I did."

Not surprisingly, they both enjoy teaching the game.

"It’s not for everybody," Garnett said. "I enjoy teaching the beginners more. It’s a fun thing, when you’re at a club 13 years, to see them grow. It’s like planting a tree. When you spend a lot of time, it means something.

"My commitment to the game was very high, from (age) 12. Some kids today, 12 and 13, don’t really want it. But if a player really wants it, that’s fun."

"Teaching comes naturally to me," Rhoney said. "My student knows that I’m into what I’m doing. I demand their attention and their time. That’s my respect for the game. I’ve had three players – former WTA pro Chanda Rubin, Derek Pope, and (current rising junior) Jordan Daigle – who hear me and are able to translate that and apply it. When they accelerate their game, it’s fun to see."