Jay netters lose OAC pair (04/26/04)

PORTLAND — The Connersville Spartans never even let Jay County think about a victory. The Huntington North Vikings did, but the Patriots still were swept the tennis double-header for the second straight season.

Jay County dropped a 5-0 decision to Connersville, and lost 3-2 to Huntington North in the annual prom-day double-header Saturday.

Despite the losses, coach Barb Stults said she was happy with the way her team played, especially with the improvement against the Vikings.

“I think they did pretty good,” she said. “I was proud of them.

“I think they were just more relaxed (against Huntington North). They got the first one out of the way and then kept their minds on the game.”

The Spartans dominated singles action, dropping just four games in the three matches. The Patriots (1-6) took both doubles matches against Huntington North, but still couldn’t quite pull out the win.

The second match came down to the battle at No. 3 singles, the only close match in an otherwise lopsided day. Huntington North had taken the other two singles contests easily, while Jay County had dominated doubles action.

The Patriots’ Angie Stults lost the first set against Alyse Roberts, but held leads of 2-1, 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 in the second with a chance to force a third. However, Roberts came surging back.

Roberts served out a game at love to tie the set at 5-5, the broke Stults’ serve to grab a 6-5 advantage.

Stults looked to be in trouble, facing a double set-point, but she won the next two points on unforced errors by Roberts for deuce. Still, Roberts grabbed the next two points, the final a shot into the net by Stults, two win the match 6-3, 7-5.

The first set of the No. 3 singles match was also close, with Stults trailing 4-3 before Roberts won back-to-back games to end it.

“I felt like she battled back pretty well and just didn’t quite make it,” said Stults.”

Erin St. Myers and Julie Sours owned Liz Hull and Sharon Ballard at No. 1 doubles in a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Erin Schmiesing and Chelsea Reff rolled over Cassidy Parrot and Katie Durwachter 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.

Huntington North took the remaining two doubles matches, with Ennea Fairchild shutting out Whitney Schemenaur 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. The Vikings’ Jessica Sprawl got by Stephanie Homan 6-0, 6-3.

Stults said her No. 2 doubles players were not thrilled with the way they finished the opener and vowed to come back in the second contest.

“They are learning to communicate very well,” said Stults of Schmiesing and Reff. “At the beginning of the season I’m not sure they were really vocally communicating.”

Jay County’s duel against Connersville was never close, although Schmiesing and Reff had a chance in their No. 2 doubles match against Libby Smith and Stephanie Bales.

The Patriot pair trailed 4-3, but won the next two games to pull ahead 5-4. They led again 6-5 with Reff stepping up to serve for the match.

Reff served out the game at love, with the winning point coming on a slam by Schmiesing.

Still, Smith and Bales bounced back to take the second set 6-4 and force a third.

Schmiesing and Reff trailed 2-1 and 3-2 in what started as a close third set, but lost three of the final four games in at 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 defeat.

None of the other matches for Jay County against the Spartans was close, as it won zero, one, three and four games respectively.

Schemenaur fell to Sara Wilhoite 6-0, 6-0, and Homan dropped a 6-1, 6-0 decision to Kristen Kanorr. Stults was on the losing end of 6-1, 6-2 score against Lindsay Conner, and St., Myers and Sours lost to Jessica Frasher and Shay Hudson 6-2, 6-2.

Jay County will play at South Adams today at 4:30 p.m.

Junior varsity

The Jay County junior varsity tennis team dropped both matches Saturday, falling 3-2 to Connersville and 4-1 to Huntington North.

Amanda Hicks had the biggest win for the Patriots against Connersville, topping Tarrah Creany 8-1. Jessica DeRome got by Jennifer Linsy at No. 2 singles with a 9-8 (7-4) tiebreaker victory.

Jay County had a chance at No. 1 singles, but Brianne Morrical fell just short in an 9-8 (7-5) loss to Tara Denham.

In doubles matches Jenae Horn and Carissa Wilkins dropped 8-1 to Rachel Weeks and Lyndsay Davis, and Megan Knittle and Jessica Muhlenkamp fell to Kerry Harmeyer and Renee Hurt 8-3.

Wilkins scored the only JV win against Huntington North, topping Lauren McIlrath 8-1 at No. 2 singles. In other singles matches Morrical dropped by an 8-2 mark to Kayla Nepler and Lauren Budde lost 8-1 to Lindsay Juergens.

In doubles matches it was Horn and DeRome losing to Kasey Berny and Amanda Pugh 8-2 and Hicks and Shonda Sutton losing by an 8-3 mark to Sarah Army and Jennifer Larson.[[In-content Ad]]