The teams each score 13 in 3A-9 and will square off in a dual match today.
By MIKE READLING
Published April 21, 2004
TAMPA - After facing each other in four of the seven finals matches Tuesday, Plant and Alonso will be back at it again this morning, trying to decide the Class 3A, District 9 champion.
The Panthers and Ravens played to a 13-13 tie Tuesday at Hillsborough Community College, forcing a dual match playoff.
Alonso won three of the four matchups on Tuesday, its only loss at No. 2 doubles, which could have pushed the title the Ravens' direction. But Lisa Hendee and Katie Lunskis defeated Gabriela Ospina and Vicky Holder, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3. That outcome ensured this morning's 8 a.m. meeting.
"I am excited," Alonso coach Helen Soash said. "This is our first run at a district title for tennis. The girls are really on top of the games right now."
The playoff will add a little more firepower to Plant, which will be able to play No. 1 player Aja Wright. Wright was disqualified from the singles portion of the district tournament Monday when she arrived at HCC late.
But since today's playoff is considered separate from districts, she will be allowed to participate. Wright teamed with Vicky Crago on the Panthers No. 1 doubles team which lost to Alonso's Megan Broderick and Fernanda Ospina, 6-3, 6-3.
King perfect on the way to 3A-8 championship
TAMPA - King's girls recorded a clean sweep of 3A-8 to begin their attempt to return to the state tournament. The Lions won all five individual titles and both doubles championships.
King scored the maximum 20 points and dominated the state individual berths as Linda Tien won at No. 1 and teamed with Brooke Allen to win No. 1 doubles.
"Our whole team played well today," Tien said. "I think we played even better than last year, because the team is much stronger."
Allen won the No. 2 singles 6-0, 6-0, over Tampa Bay Tech's Allison Schaefer.
In the other singles matches Elizabeth Kensrue defeated Amanda Squitieri 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3; Marissa Sullivan topped Armwood's Jennifer Loveridge 6-2, 6-0 at No. 4 and Sarah Mead defeated Elizabeth Stevens 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5.
"We have a team concept," King coach Carole Pressick said. "We work as a team and we play as a team and today they all played well as a team."
King will host the region match Friday.
- TERRY JONES
Freedom's Gioia joins AHN at the top of 2A-9
TAMPA - Everything went pretty much as expected, which meant Freedom's Laura Gioia won the No. 1 singles' title and Academy of the Holy Names took the team championship in 2A-9 Tuesday afternoon at Tampa Palms.
Academy - which finished with 16 points, four ahead of Freedom - sealed it early when Marie King won her final 7-5, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. Much credit, however, goes to Jaguars Christine Pytlinski, Kelly Russell, Allison Symulevich and Lindsey Young who won key matches Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
"It was a total team effort," Academy coach Heather Cross said. "We had some tough matches but we fought through them and won all the ones we were supposed to win.
"By the time we got to the finals we were in great shape with four out of five players in the singles finals and two teams in the doubles."
The only singles final without a Jaguar was at No. 1, which Gioia won handily. Because she earned a bye, Gioia played two singles matches in the tournament and dropped only one game in four sets.
"I'm playing nice and clean," said Gioia, a junior who transferred from King last summer. "I'm playing with confidence and that translates to me being more relaxed. When you play scared you get tight and don't make the shots.
"But right now I'm confident."
Gioia earned a trip to next week's state tournament as an individual. Academy must win on Friday in a regional match to advance to state.
