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Preps
The Panthers sweep the Pirates to remain undefeated.
By THOMAS GEMKOW
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2003
LECANTO -- The Panthers just keep on rolling.
Lecanto swept Crystal River 7-0, improving to 10-0 and 77-1 in its past 78 regular-season matches.
"If everybody stays healthy, we should continue to do fine," Lecanto coach Joan Roberts said. Nisha Shah downed former teammate Jennifer Rimes 8-5, 6-2 to win the No. 1 match.
"I think I played okay. The first set was kind of hard. It was extremely windy," said Shah of her performance against Rimes, Lecanto's No. 1 last season. "The wind slowed down a little, and I played much better in the second set."
Roberts said she had confidence in her new No. 1.
"I knew they were both good players," Roberts said. "Nisha is playing very well, though. Then you have the wind.
"That was a factor; who could adjust to that. It was a good match."
Shreya Rao defeated Ashley Christie 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 in a match that lasted a little more then three hours.
"I thought I could have played better," said Rao, a sophomore.
"(Christie) was playing great. I won the first set, and I just concentrated on playing the same way in the third set."
Rao, who moved between the fourth and fifth seed last year, has adjusted well so far this season to playing at No. 2. She improved to 8-2 on Thursday.
Ashley Campbell made quick work of Elizabeth DeRevere at No. 3, winning 6-0, 6-1. Sireesha Bellam and Lisa Hoss also won for the Panthers.
Shah teamed with Rao and Campbell teamed with Bellam for doubles victories.