Friday, May 15, 2004

Five local tennis teams make Final Four

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

McIntosh’s boys and girls, Starr’s Mill’s boys and girs and Sandy Creek’s boys have all qualified for the state semifinals in their respective classes, which begin today at Stone Mountain.

McIntosh’s boys qualified by defeating Tift County 5-0. Winners in singles were Phil Van Fossan (6-3,7-6, 7-5), Stefan James (6-0,6-1) and Osman Farqui (6-0,6-1). The doubles teams of Joe Styga and Francois Pienaar (6-2,6-4) and Patrick Thomas and Hoot Fisher (6-4,6-3) also won.

They will take on Harrison today, while the Lady Chiefs will face Walton. They advanced to the final four after defeating Glynn Academy, 4-0. Priscilla Roberts and Adriane Hodges, the number one and two singles, won 6-3,6-1 and 6-1, 6-0 respectively. The doubles teams of Shelby Carlson and Lauren Wilde and Stephanie Daughenbaugh and Lyndsi Tuft won 6-0, 6-3 and 6-0, 6-1.

Starr’s Mill’s boys and girls made the semifinals with wins over Lowndes and Colquitt County respectively. The Panthers prevailed over the very talented Lowndes Vikings team 3-2. Panthers number three singles player Eric Jackson posted the first team point with his 6-1, 6-0 win over James Rich. Derrick Davison, the number one singles player, lost to Vikings Mikey Millner 1-6, 1-6, while Adam Esterline, Starr’s Mill’s number two, lost to Vikings Daniel Griffin 4-6, 6-1. The number one Panthers doubles Evan Foster/Keith Kowal claimed the second point when they defeated Wes Dollar/Ben Galloway 6-2, 6-1 and the number two Panthers doubles team of Ben Matlaga/Thomas Davisson won the decisive third point for the team win over Matt Odom/Nick Broydon 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

The Lady Panthers defeated Colquitt County, 4-1 with Jenny Shular, the number one singles player for the Lady Panthers defeating Lindsey Jacobs 6-0, 6-0. Gaby Acuna, Starr’s Mill’s number two, beat Abigail McCrary 6-2, 6-1 and Lindsey Dillion, the Panthers number three, was victorious over Amber Eunice in a tough three-setter 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. The number one Lady Panthers doubles team of Kitty Ireland/Shayna Simmons also won in a split-set decision over Gracie Qurenell 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, giving them the win.

Sandy Creek’s boys beat Chapel Hill 3-2 Tuesday with their singles players all earning wins. They will take on Marist today.