Green Devils pair advance to semifinals

After three matches, St. Petersburg's Shaye Wali was tired but optimistic at the Class 4A state tournament.

By SCOTT PURKS
Published April 26, 2007

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS - After three matches, one of which was a two-hour, tight duel in the sun, St. Petersburg's Shaye Wali was tired but optimistic at the Class 4A state tournament.

"The toughest part is the mental side," said Wali, who will play an individual singles semifinal this morning at 8. "It's difficult to keep that focus for that long back to back to back."

An hour was spaced between each match, the last of which was with doubles partner Aaron Ellison, who helped in a 6-0, 6-4 victory over a team from Everglades High.

"I was a little nervous because this was my first state tournament," Ellison said. "But I think we got it going pretty good out there."

St. Petersburg coach Alan Turnquist said Ellison and Wali should be fine for today's semifinals.

"We'll get some fluids in them and get some rest and they'll be good to go," Turnquist said. "I'm feeling good about their chances."

Wali and Ellison are the only boys from the Tampa Bay area in the Class 4A tournament.

On the girls side, Alonso finished the first day with six points, four behind the leader, Miami Dr. Krop. Alonso's Megan Broderick, the defending Class 4A state champion, plays this morning for the team No. 1 division title.

Class 2A

TAMPA - The experience of Bolles' senior-laden team proved too much for St. Petersburg Catholic and its freshman-heavy lineup.

But in two semifinal doubles losses to the Bulldogs at the finals at Hillsborough Community College - SPC's Alyssa Bellini and Jerica Coley fell 6-2, 6-3 to second-seeded Taylor Morgan and Melanie Rolle at No. 1 doubles while Danielle Nickerson and Molly Smith were blanked by top-seeded Julia Middlekauff and Lindsay Reidenback 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 - the Barons garnered a clearer understanding of the talent level needed to achieve a state championship.

And with most of the Barons back for three more seasons, that insight could translate into a future state title.

"We probably were a little nervous," Coley said. "When we first began we were pumped up. I think the nervousness went away once the match went on."

"This was the first competitive match we've played together this season," said Bellini, who added that she and Coley only played half the season together because of Coley's starting spot on the Barons basketball team.

"We had trouble finishing."

Bellini and Coley started strong but fell behind midway in the first set and couldn't catch up. Nickerson and Smith tried everything they could think of in their match at No. 2 doubles but had no answer for the Bolles seniors. All four Barons are freshmen.

"It was a lot of fun," Smith said. "Hopefully, next time we'll do a lot better. ...

"We're expecting a lot more next year."

Bryan Burns, Times correspondent

[Last modified April 26, 2007, 00:17:21]