Freedom welcomes the rain delay

By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published April 27, 2005

TAMPA - It took three hours in stiff winds, but Freedom's Laura Gioia, also struggling with muscle cramps, persevered, beating the No. 1 seed in the first round of action at Hillsborough Community College.

Cardinal Gibbons' Julie Blackburn took the first set 6-4 before Gioia fought back to win the final two sets 6-4, 7-5.

"What a wonderfully played match it was," Freedom coach Eleanor Canencia said. "They both played so hard but Laura just came up with a little more. I was so, so proud of her."

When rains came shortly after the match and washed away competition for the rest of the day, Canencia said she had rarely been more pleased to have a downpour.

"Laura was about to head out for a No. 1 doubles match, but after playing two tough matches (the first a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Celebration's Julie Huschke) I was grateful play was postponed (until today)," Canencia said. "Now she can rest up and come up energized."

Freedom's girls finished the first day with two girls in singles finals: Gioia at No. 1 and Paige Kensrue at No. 2. The Patriots' No. 3, Caitlin McKenna, and No. 4 Kellen Beagle, also won a match before losing in the semis.

Still, with a near-perfect day today, Freedom might have a shot at team title.

"It will be tough, but it's not out of the question," Canencia said. "If Laura can win No. 1 singles and our others step up, who knows?"

Gioia plays for the No. 1 singles title in the team division today against Jacksonville Bolles' Katherine Decker-Sadowski.

The other three county team representatives - Newsome's boys and girls and Jesuit's boys - didn't fare as well as Freedom's girls, but all was not lost.

Newsome's girls did have one player reach today's singles' finals, No. 4 Jamie Anderson.

Newsome's boys also had just one player reach the singles finals, No. 2 Brad Henderson, who handily won two matches on Tuesday 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-0.

Newsome's No. 1 player, Alex Vuckovic, also the tournament's No. 1 seed, was eliminated in his first match 6-4, 7-5 by Gulliver Prep's Billy Mulligan.

The only Jesuit player to reach today's singles finals was No. 3 Macale Smith, who won his matches 6-0, 6-2 and 6-1, 6-2.

Play is scheduled to resume at 8 a.m.

[Last modified April 27, 2005, 00:49:07]