King drops two singles and two doubles matches, but equals last year's performance.
By EMILY NIPPS
Published April 30, 2004
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS - They didn't improve on last year's finish, but they'll take it.
The King Lions, who were tied at second entering the final round of the Class 3A tournament, fell to third after dropping their four singles and doubles matches Thursday. They hoped to surpass last season's third-place performance, but champion St. Thomas Aquinas and runnerup Naples Barron Collier were tough to overcome.
King No. 3 player Paige Kensrue was the first to finish in the morning finals, and she lost 7-5, 6-2 to Amy Morgenstern of St. Thomas Aquinas. No. 5 Sarah Mead, who played a tough three-setter Wednesday to beat the tournament's top seed, fell 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 to second-seeded Amy Morgenstern.
In No. 1 doubles, Linda Tien and Brooke Allen lost 6-4, 6-2 to Audra Cohen and Morgenstern (St. Thomas Aquinas). Another St. Thomas Aquinas pair defeated Kensrue and Marissa Sullivan at No. 2 doubles.
At the end of a rough day, though, the Lions left with pride intact.
"Everyone was really positive the whole time," Allen said. "I think everyone played well, and we'll definitely get to states again."
King returns everyone but its No. 1 player, Linda Tien, next year. Tien's final shot in her final high school match (in doubles with Allen) was a winner.
"She was happy about that," Allen said.
Alonso freshman Megan Broderick, the only Ravens player still in the field, lost 6-0, 6-1 in her final against top seed Cohen (St. Thomas Aquinas). Alonso finished sixth.
