If you’re at a Pacelli tennis match and hear a loud German phrase followed by a powerful slamming sound, don’t worry. It’s probably just the Shamrocks’ No. 1 singles player Lisa Johnen unleashing one of her serves.

Johnen, a junior foreign exchange student from Germany, has opened her season at Pacelli with a 6-0 start after she beat Winona Cotter Allie Gernes 6-0, 6-1 Tuesday at Paulson Courts.

Gernes put up one of the best fights Johnen has seen all season as four of her wins were clean sweeps and she has yet to come close to playing in a third set.

“It was really interesting to play (someone good) and it was fun,” said Johnen. “I don’t think I have a style, I just try to play the way that I can beat my ‘enemy.’ I try to stay more aggressive and force the issue.”

Johnen, whose hosts are Rick and Michelle Johnson of Austin, brings 12 years of tennis experience with her as she was a club player in Germany before coming to Pacelli High School this fall.

“She’s a dynamic player. She’s exciting to watch and she really helps the girls with the challenge that she gives them,” Pacelli head girls tennis coach Mark Henderson said. “She’s a high level player.”

Johnen quickly had an effect on her teammates in practice as she’s played against just about every one of them at one time or another. However, most of her practice battles come against the experienced players like sophomore No. 3 singles player Abby Leif.

“She’s has these amazing serves and that’s helped me return better,” Leif said. “She’s also helped us hit the ball better.”

While playing in Germany, Johnen competed on clay courts, and she is still getting used to the speed of hard court tennis. The experience she has from her home country more than prepared her to compete for the Shamrocks.

“I’m not one of the top German players, so there are people way better than me,” she said. “Playing them helped me get a lot better.”

As far as her postseason prospects go, Henderson said Johnen could be in the mix when the Section 1A tournament begins Oct. 9 in Rochester.

“We have an excellent section and Rochester Lourdes has a pretty rich history in girls tennis,” he said. “She stands to do well and if she is fortunate enough to play well in the postseason. She’s definitely got the ability to make some noise. I think she stands a chance to represent Pacelli pretty well in the postseason.”

Johnen is not sweating how far she will go or how many matches she’ll win. She’s mostly looking for the best experience America can give her.

“It’s pretty good to be on the team so you’re involved in the whole school. Pacelli’s pretty cool and everybody’s nice,” she said. “I came over here to go to school and get the experience of living in another country. It’s nice to play tennis too.”

Since there are two other German students on the team — juniors Katharina Esch and Selin Yegin, Henderson said some German phrases have caught on with the whole team.

“It’s nice for the girls to get that experience,” he said. “It’s one thing to learn it in a classroom, and it’s entirely another thing to have it front of you every day.”

He also hopes that Johen’s presence can continue to help the Shamrocks (1-5 overall) improve this season.

“The girls are real confident about their prospects for the rest of the year,” Henderson said. “We’re planning on bringing our best every match and hopefully we’ll see some progress as we go.”

Pacelli will travel to Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Thursday at 4:30 p.m.