Giants blank JC in semifinal (05/19/07)

MARION - The Giant hurdle proved too tall.

Every year in recent memory, the Jay County girls tennis team had played host Marion in the championship match. This year the match came a round earlier and the Giants topped the Patriots 5-0 Friday to advance to the finals.

Marion will seek its sixth consecutive sectional crown in today's championship match. Jay County finishes the campaign at 8-9, two wins more than a year ago.

"We certainly skill-wise improved," said JCHS coach Roy Adams. "I think we played in a lot of matches stronger than we did last year. And I think we competed at sectional better this year.

"We played close with a lot of teams that we wouldn't have touched last year. Overall I'm pleased with the performance."

Marion locked up its semifinal win in fairly quick fashion, giving up just a total of five games in its wins at No. 1 singles, No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles.

In the match between the top singles players, Carissa Wilkins dropped the first set 6-1 to Kristen Futrell and had her back against the wall down 5-0 in the second. She broke Futrell's serve in the sixth game of the second set and then fought through four deuce points to get to 5-2 before fading for a 6-1, 6-2 defeat.

At No. 2 singles Jenna Valentine fell 6-0, 6-1 to Amee Patel, and at No. 2 doubles Cindy Muhlenkamp and Megan Knittle lost 6-1, 6-0 to Emma Friday and Alex Davis as Marion sealed the team victory.

The Patriot No. 1 doubles team of Jessica Muhlenkamp and Tiffani Bickel looked as if they might earn themselves a chance to advance in the doubles tournament after taking the first set 6-1. But the duo stumbled after winning the first three games of the second set and lost 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 to Larissa Barrido and Alex Lester.

"We played fairly even (in the second set and) we were up 5-4," said Adams. "We just didn't close it out. In third set we got down fairly quickly and before we knew it we were down 5-2."

Megan Adams, the No. 3 singles player, also had a chance at victory after winning the opening set. However, Tamara Barrett rallied in the next to top her 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.

"Megan came out and played real well starting out and just got tight in the second set," said Roy Adams. "By the third set, (Barrett) just found her rhythm."[[In-content Ad]]