TEMPLE TERRACE - Even after its No. 1 player, Laura Gioa, transferred to Freedom, King had no problem earning a Class 3A state tournament berth on Friday. The Lions' pipeline is just that deep.
Easy singles victories against Lakeland George Jenkins by the No. 2, 3, 4 and 5 players clinched the regional title. King No. 1 Linda Tien struggled against George Jenkins freshman Monica Arguello (6-1, 6-2), but the four starting sophomores were enough to earn the Lions a returning trip to state.
With doubles wins, King defeated George Jenkins 6-1.
"It's exciting, especially to compete so well after we lost our No. 1 player," King No. 2 Brooke Allen said. "State was so much fun last year. ... We know what to expect."
Allen defeated her opponent, Alison Sopko, 6-1, 6-2, and No. 3 Paige Kensrue defeated Jennifer Barry 6-2, 6-1. King No. 4 Marissa Sullivan beat Brittany Bowden 6-1, and first-year starter Sarah Meade defeated Leah Carroll 6-0, 6-3.
After that, the two teams decided to continue with doubles, which King won. Tien and Allen paired up for the first time this season to beat Arguella and Sopko 6-0, 7-5.
King will enter the 3A tournament in Altamonte Springs on Wednesday. The Lions placed third in 3A last season.
Alonso advances 4-3
CLEARWATER - Megan Broderick dominated from the start, and she helped steer Alonso to the District 3A regional title.
The Ravens will head to Altamonte Springs for the state championships starting Tuesday after defeating Countryside 4-3.
Broderick, a freshman, dominated Countryside freshman Ashley Hunderford, 6-0, 6-0, to win her first regional, and Broderick's teammates Fernanda Ospina and her sister, Gabriella, also won.
"They are our three musketeers," Alonso coach Helen Soash said. "When those three step out on the court, they make us a special team."
For Broderick, the performance wasn't bad for a player seeing major high school competition for the first time.
"This is the first time I've played with a high school team, so I just wanted to get into my game," Broderick said. "I played my game, I went to the net, and I knew if I played my game I could do pretty well."
Broderick is 30th in the state in the USTA 16-under rankings, and Soash said she can go farther.
The Ravens got another boost from the Ospina sisters, each of whom won their matches easily, but Countryside challenged when Nos. 4 and 5 players Sarah Neiner and Brianna Zabrist, respectively, won their singles matches, setting the stage for a double showdown.
The Ravens took care of it quickly when the Ospina sisters knocked off Hunderford and Vales, 6-1, 6-2.
- JEFF BERLINICKE
Gaither ousted 5-2
TAMPA - Gaither's Brianna Williams kept her four-year No.1 singles winning streak intact by dismantling Orlando Freedom's Silvia Frandji, 6-1, 6-0.
However, the first-year visitors won three-of-five singles matches and swept the doubles competition to capture the Class 4A, Region 3 title 5-2 at Cheval Country Club.
"Two years ago, we went into the regionals and got blown away," said coach Michelle Wilson, whose Cowboys were 11-2 during the regular season. "This time, we were competitive."
Carolina Adana was the other Gaither winner. She beat Sandra Damelio 6-1, 6-0 at No.4 singles.
Annica Johansson and Williams, who will play doubles Monday at the state tournament in Altamonte Springs, kept it close but lost 7-5, 7-5 to Freedom's Frandji and Gabriella Duarte. Williams, by virtue of her district title, will compete at No.1 singles in state.
- CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Academy rolls 7-0
Academy of the Holy Names traveled down Highway 60 to Bartow and beat the host Yellow Jackets 7-0 for a regional tennis title, earning a spot in next week's Class 2A state tournament.
Academy didn't drop a set and didn't allow any Bartow singles player or doubles team more than four games in any set.
"I didn't much about Bartow's team but when I saw the teams warming up I thought we can win this," Academy coach Heather Cross said. "I think the girls also had confidence after we got out there on the court."
The 2A tournament begins Tuesday at Hillsborough Community College's main campus.
