Alonso's third title won't come as easy

With the move up in classification, the Raven girls find themselves with tougher teams for the district tourney.

By TERRY JONES
Published April 16, 2006

TAMPA - Alonso's girls won the district title and advanced to the state tournament the past two seasons. Both times, the Ravens placed sixth at state.

But despite returning their top four players, losing only once during the regular season and one of the top players in Florida at No.1, the Ravens will have a tough battle just to advance past the District 5 tournament, which starts Monday at Hillsborough Community College.

The reason? A move from Class 3A to 4A means tougher competition. That includes two Pinellas County teams, St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor U. The Green Devils won the 4A-7 district tournament last year before being eliminated by Sarasota Riverview in the region match.

"I believe the winner of our district tournament will have a decent chance to go all the way," Alonso coach Helen Soash said. "Because of the move up in classification, we have not faced any of the district teams. We only know St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor have great teams."

Both teams have lost only once this season, both to nondistrict opponents. Alonso fell to Chamberlain, the team the Ravens beat at their past two district tournaments. St. Petersburg fell to East Lake.

Alonso and St. Petersburg dominate the seedings. The Ravens have the top seed at No.3 and No.4 singles. The Green Devils have the top seed at No.1, No.2 and No.5 singles.

So the tournament could come down to the No.1 singles final, which might include Alonso's Megan Broderick and St. Petersburg's Lindsey D'Vorak.

In the United States Tennis Association state rankings, Broderick is ranked No.5 among players 18 and younger while D'Vorak is No.2 among players 16 and younger.

"I have never played Lindsey, and I can't think of that match until we both qualify for it," Broderick said. "I know she is a great player, but we both must win several other matches before we face each other. We must play one match at a time."

Fernanda Ospina plays at No.2 singles for Alonso and teamed with Broderick to go 12-0 at No.1 doubles.

Ospina, a senior and team captain, has lost only one singles match this season and has committed to Flagler, a Division II school in St. Augustine. Her younger sister, Gabriela, is undefeated at No.3 singles and has lost only once at No.2 doubles with Marcela Lopez. Lopez has lost only one singles match.

Krista Beach, a sophomore, plays at No.5 singles.

"There will be some great tennis matches in this tournament," Soash said. "Anyone who enjoys hard-fought tennis matches with talented players will see great tennis. We will take it one point, one game, one set and one match at a time and leave our best play on the court."

[Last modified April 16, 2006, 00:42:15]