Jay County notches upset of Red Devils (05/16/03)

PORTLAND — So much for the mid-season swoon.

Since losing four straight matches — three in the Olympic Athletic Conference — the Jay County tennis team has climbed back to the .500 mark at 6-6. It evened that record with a 3-2 upset over the Richmond Red Devils Thursday for its third win in a row.

“The main thing I said to the girls was they took the match against Shenandoah like it was a practice,” said Jay County coach Deb Miller, despite her team’s 3-2 win Tuesday. “Tonight they came out ready to play the match. The quality of play was pretty darn good.”

Richmond (10-4) simply had no answer for Jay County’s trio of singles-playing seniors on Senior Night.

Kelly Hess authored the fastest ending, chasing the Red Devils’ Laura Karnes all over the court at No. 3 singles.

She rolled through the first set for a 6-2 win. Again up 5-2 in the second set, she had a chance to serve out the match.

Hess did so with ease, earning a game point with a nifty cross-court winner, and watching Karnes miss the final shot of the match as she won the game at love.

The 6-2, 6-2 victory from Hess was just slightly more dominating than the wins from Daniela Harringer at No. 1 singles and Kristen Klatt at No. 2 singles.

Harringer won and lost each game on her own merit, crushing Liz Byrd with powerful serves. She had her share of double faults in the match, letting a 5-1 lead slip to 5-3 before taking the first set.

But, Byrd simply could not keep up with Harringer, and the Jay County senior won the match 6-3, 6-3.

Klatt trailed early in her match against Annie Kitchin by a 2-1 score, but came roaring back in the first set. She won five of the next six games, taking the set 6-3 when Kitchin failed to adjust to the spin of the ball and knocked the final shot into the net.

Klatt continued to roll in the second set, using a variety of power and finesse shots to keep Kitchin off balance on the way to a 6-3, 6-3 win.

Kitchin — who had just one loss before Thursday — called Klatt “the best player she has played all year.”

“I was really pleased with the way the seniors played tonight,” said Miller. “We are playing three very strong teams (to close the season). I think playing against those teams will only help us improve. When we get into sectional, hopefully that will continue.”

The Patriots’ next match is at No. 15 Delta Monday at 4:30 p.m., and they end the season against an always-strong Winchester squad (11-3) Tuesday. The sectional draw is Monday, and the tournament at Marion — which includes the host Giants, Blackford, Mississinewa and Madison Grant — starts Thursday.

Jay County’s doubles teams were less successful on the scoreboard Thursday, but had some hard-fought matches.

At No. 1 doubles, Julie Sours and Erin St. Myers dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision to seniors Amanda McAdams and Leah McVoy. Playing their first match together, Erin Schmiesing and Chelsea Reff lost to Karey Martin and Corney Shepard 6-4, 7-5.

“Julie and Erin have been playing a lot of seniors throughout the season,” said Miller. “They’re learning gradually the importance of different strategies that are involved.

“(Schmiesing and Reff) have only played tonight and maybe an hour of practice. I’m really pleased with the way they played.”

Junior varsity

Jay County’s junior varsity team couldn’t keep up with Richmond Thursday, losing 4-0. They are now 5-7 this season.

Seniors Brittany Pinkerton and Niki Guntle had the closest match of the night in JV action at No. 2 doubles, falling to Amy Runyon and Stephanie Goss 8-5. Brianne Morrical and Stephanie Homan lost 8-4 to Runyon and Goss in the other doubles match.

Whitney Schemenaur was defeated by Keziah Rosenburg 8-4 at No. 1 singles, and Amanda Hicks fell to Rosenburg 8-2 at No. 2 singles.[[In-content Ad]]