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Crystal River boys are strong at the top

Crystal River's two best singles players have perfect records in the biggest competitions.

By DAWN REISS and LARRY BUGG
Published April 14, 2005

Chris Lavoie , No.1 for the boys team, and No.2 Brian DeMontfort are undefeated in singles and the top doubles squad in district play. Lavoie is 6-0 in Class 2A-6.

"Everybody I have put Chris up against has been a big-time player," coach Vicki Browning said. "He's played well."

The Pirates (9-5) are young except for Lavoie, a senior. Joey Maggio is a first-year member but has been performing well as a senior in the No.3 position.

CRYSTAL RIVER GIRLS: Coach Laura Flanagan 's six-member team is 5-7, 5-3 in district.

Senior Elizabeth DeRevere sustained a sprained ankle while battling Rao in a No.1 singles match but will return for district competition.

"We're doing okay," Flanagan said. "We are having a tough season."

DeRevere's sister, Jillian, is a junior who plays in the No.2 position.

LECANTO BOYS: The Panthers' Jack Hall thinks he inherited an outstanding group of players from last year's coach, Bill Murray , a current Citrus County School Board member.

"We're having a great year," Hall said of his 6-0 squad. "Bill Murray put the team together last year. I stepped in when he was elected to the school board. It makes me look good, and I didn't do anything."

Cyprian Rodriguez has a 5-1 record as the No.1 player. Rabi Parikh , No.2, is 4-0; No.3 Matt Tringali is 4-1, No.4 Phillip Saltsman is 6-0 and No.5 Josh Kruhm is 5-0.

Hall said he has been successful playing a lot of people in the top two doubles spots.

Lecanto has defeated Crystal River 4-3. "They are very good and very well-coached," Hall said of the Pirates.

LECANTO GIRLS: Coach Karen Dickson has only nine players, so there is little depth on the team.

But the Panthers have a 7-2 mark behind No.1 Shreya Rao .

Three of the top five players are freshman: No.2 Sonia Shah , No.3 Shiviani Parikh and No.5 Lakshmi Ram . The No.4 singles competitor is junior Sara Shah .

"They all take lessons year-round," Dickson said. "They are more experienced than the other players they face."

CITRUS BOYS: The Hurricanes are 5-5, 4-4 in district.

"We have a young team," coach Alice Christian said. "They have improved since the beginning of the season."

Freshman Anthony Carter and junio r Kyle Clauder have made progress, and Citrus has been helped by Slovakian exchange student Igor Babol (No.2).

"He's a lot of fun and wants to win more than anyone on the team," Christian said of Babol. "He's got a very good stroke and is aggressive at the net."

CITRUS GIRLS: Freshman Courtney Spafford has a 9-2 record in the No.1 position and is leading the Hurricanes (6-5, 5-3 in district).

"She's a diverse, well-rounded player who has a strong first serve and is strong from the baseline," Citrus coach Katie Hughes said.

Another freshman who's making an impact is No.5 Jordan Connor .

"I was worried about not having enough girls for a full team," Hughes said. "Jordan came out and worked her way. She is new to the sport but is very athletic and picked everything up quickly. She is our most improved player."

The remainder of the line-up consists of No.2 Asha Balakrishnan , a senior; No.3 Laurel Furbish and No.4 Amber Connolley a sophomore.

[Last modified April 14, 2005, 01:14:09]